Suicidality In the Deep South: Risks For Adolescent Mississippians

Design/Methodology/Approach: Mississippi-specific data were obtained from an existing national health data set and utilized for two hierarchal linear regressions.

Findings: Highest risk for adolescent suicidality is for females with poor body image and a history of traumatic experiences.

Research Limitations/Implications: This study demonstrates the need for further research into unique suicide risk factors for adolescents in Mississippi. Causality cannot be inferred due to the correlational nature of this study, and direct comparison of the findings to adolescents from other states cannot be made.

Originality/Value: This exploratory study employed a holistic, inclusive approach toward better identifying adolescent Mississippians most at-risk for suicidality; findings lead to future, targeted research efforts for better understanding specific suicide risk factors in this population.