Suicide rates among Black women increased from 1999 to 2020, especially among Black teens and young adults, according to latest research published by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The study is the first to examine the epidemiology of suicide among Black females in the U.S. by geographical region. The results are published in the American Journal of Psychiatry(link is external and opens in a new window).

Among Black women ages 15 to 84, suicide rates rose from 2 percent in 1999 to 3.4 percent in 2020. Increases considerably spiked among Black women and girls ages 15 to 24, rising from 1.9 to 4.9 per 100,000 in the time span.

“Suicides are rapidly increasingly among young, Black females in the U.S.,” said Victoria Joseph, MPH, an analyst in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, and first author. “High rates among those aged 25–27 years, suggest that this age may be a developmental period for Black women with particular need of additional support.”

“These findings are in line with evidence that suicidal behaviors are increasing among minoritized youth. While the reasons why remain under investigation, it could be that cyberbullying and online racial attacks toward Black female youth may be on the rise, in particular, and therefore interventions targeting certain stressors are particularly critical for young Black women. noted Katherine Keyes, PhD, professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School, and senior author.

While structural racism from stigma and a mistrust of support systems can reduce access to care of Black youth it may also play a role in suicidal behavior, according to Joseph and colleagues, as access to help during a suicidal crisis is a critical component of suicide prevention efforts.

Using the National Center for Health Statistics’ Multiple Cause of Death 1999-2020 database which covers year of death, race, sex, age, and U.S. census region, the researchers focused on suicide deaths among Black or African-American individuals classified as female ages 15 to 84. This included in total 9,271 suicide deaths, ranging from 289 in 1999 to 652 in 2020. “We selected 2010 as our reference period as it was an inflection point for subsequent increases in suicide deaths,” observed Joseph.

Evaluating suicide rates by age, period, and cohort provided data about suicide risk for specific birth cohorts, and across recent time periods, “enabling more precise identification of populations in which interventions are particularly urgent,” according to the authors.

Results indicated the presence of a “clear age effect” with higher rates among younger women; a period effect “with rates generally increasing across time for most ages”; and a cohort effect “with suicide rates highest among females born after 2002 as well as a grouping in suicide rates among those youngest affected by suicide.

With regard to region of the country, suicide rates among Black women were highest in the West, rising to nearly 5 suicide deaths per 100,000 among those ages 25 to 34. Also notable: deaths were concentrated in the South due in part to the larger Black population in that region.

“Intimate partner violence, neighborhood violence, and lack of investment into federal and state support systems  also contribute to poor mental health outcomes and limited treatment access” said Joseph and “are overrepresented risk factors among Black girls and women in some areas.”

“We encourage future research to fine tune deeper delineations that take into account and consider state level trends and analyses among various ethnicities and gender identities,” said Keyes.

Co-authors are Gonzalo Martínez-Alés, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research, Madrid, Spain;  Mark Olfson and Madelyn Gould, Columbia irving Medical Center; Jeffrey Shaman, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia Climate School; and Catherine Gimbrone, Columbia Mailman School.

The study was supported by National Institutes of Health, grant R01 MH 121410.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Suicide Rates Among Black Women and Girls On the Rise For Two Decades appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Move Over Boys, These Girls are Making A Name For Themselves Now!

The girl’s basketball team at San Jacinto Valley Academy is quickly making a name for themselves around Southern California, dominating day in and day out. Right now, they have a 15-1 overall record and are looking like the favorites to secure the “Chip” this season. They have some tough opponents ahead of them, but they have what it takes to go the whole way. The team is coming fresh off a victory against La Puente 58-45, next up is Santa Paula is ranked 504 in the state while San Jacinto Valley Academy is ranked 433. On paper, the San Jacinto Valley Academy girls should win this game. As long as they keep playing the way they have that’s gotten them this far.

Jheisymae Artagame is only a sophomore but is having an amazing season. Artagame transferred from San Jacinto High School and was forced to sit out the first half of the season. So when she got the chance to start playing, she wasted no time. Artagame is averaging: 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals per game. She has a quick release and has a really high basketball IQ.

Krislyn Mozga is also a beast in her own right, averaging 11 points per game, 5 assists, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals. She is also only a sophomore. Kalia Anady is having quite the season; she is putting up double 7’s. Seven points a game and seven rebounds. Rayann Dudley grabs about seven rebounds a game as well.

In true Mamba fashion, the leading scorer for the Wolves is wearing #24, and she wears it with pride. Princess Mccauley is putting up 22 points and 10 rebounds per game. She is, Misses Double-Double and plays with a type of tenacity that has proven to be unmatched this season. Mccauley is only a Freshman and is already building a reputation around Southern California for being an elite scorer and ball handler.

The crazy thing about this team is: it is loaded with underclassmen; in fact, there is only one junior and no seniors on the roster. Get used to hearing these lady’s names now, because they are only coming up and there are four more years left of their reign. Each one of these girl’s styles of play is different than the others, but they all fit together like a well-oiled machine that has been operating as one for many years.

Coach Shanequa Mccauley and staff have done an amazing job with this team and their future is bright. Stay tuned for updates on the San Jacinto Valley Academy girl’s basketball team as they continue to tear through the CIF playoffs in 2020.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

Search: Girls Run The Gym

The post Girls Run The Gym in San Jacinto appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.