Episode 56: Ring the Alarm: The Epidemic Black Youth Suicide with Dr. Rhonda Boyd

Parenting for Liberation

There is a current epidemic of Black children dying by suicide. Suicide attempts rose by 73% between 1991-2017 for Black adolescents. The suicide rate among those younger than 13 years is approximately 2 times higher for black children compared with White children. These numbers are shocking but what do they reveal about the current mental health of our young people? What does the research indicate? How do we address this issue in our own families? How do we tackle this crisis as a community? Trina sits down with psychologist and researcher, Dr. Rhonda Boyd.

Dr. Rhonda Boyd is a psychologist in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Her research focuses on depression among youth and perinatal women. She has a line of research examining maternal depression among women of color and their children and developing preventive interventions aimed at these families. She also conducts research on risk and protective factors among youth, especially Black adolescents, with a recent focus on understanding youth depression and suicidal ideation and behaviors. Dr. Boyd also served on the Congressional Black Caucus’s Emergency TaskForce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health who released the report, Ring the Alarm The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Resources:

Ring the Alarm The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide in America

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

www.policylab.chop.edu

Suicide Prevention Resource Center