Pediatric Education and Advocacy Kit (PEAK): Suicide

In the United States, suicide is the second leading cause of death for youths ages 10-18 (CDC NCHS Data Brief, 2019). Increasingly, the emergency care system has become a safety net for treating pediatric mental health issues: from 2007 to 2015, ED visits for suicide attempts and ideation doubled among the nation’s youth (JAMA Pediatrics, 2019).

In light of the urgent need to improve pediatric suicide screening and mental health care in emergency settings, we are pleased to share new resources as part of our latest Pediatric Education and Advocacy Kit (PEAK): Suicide.

Through these resources, individuals can learn how to properly screen for pediatric suicide risk and assess acuity, develop safety plans, advocate for improved mental health care; and create care pathways to improve care for children and adolescents in crisis.

Last updated: July 2024