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James Donaldson on Mental Health – Understanding and Addressing Racial Disparities in Suicide Rates
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Suicide rates in the United States are highest among American Indian, Alaska Native, and white populations. However, youth suicide rates are rising in African American and Asian communities.
Suicide, the taking of one’s own life, can have profound effects on families and communities. For various reasons, suicide may be more prevalent in some communities than others. In the United States, suicide rates can vary depending on race or ethnicity.
Reasons for the disparities in suicide rates among races include:
access to mental health resources
discrimination or trauma specific to racial identity
socioeconomic and systemic issues
cultural differences
Understanding that different communities and unique identities exist within each group and ethnicity, no specific reason will apply to everyone within a group. Still, we can identify specific trends that are more prevalent within each community.
Suicide prevention
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you’re not alone. Help is available right now:
Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Suicide rates are much higher in some racial and ethnic groups in the United States than in others.
The highest rates are among non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native populations — nearly four times higher than the rates among Asian American populations.
non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
14.3
non-Hispanic multiracial
10.5
non-Hispanic Black
9.0
Hispanic
8.1
non-Hispanic Asian
6.9
But numbers don’t tell the entire story. Beneath these figures lie other emerging trends that reveal a bigger picture. And within each community, specific factors contribute to these disparities.
How have suicide rates changed in recent years?
After years of increases across all races, suicide rates decreased Trusted Source in 2019 and 2020. However, rates began to increase again in 2021, especially among people of color and young people.
American Indian and Alaska Native populations have the highest suicide rate among ethnic groups in the United States, according to the CDC Trusted Source. Still, that data may be incomplete due to cultural reasons.
Nearly three-quarters Trusted Source of American Indian and Alaska Native people who died by suicide in 2022 were 44 years old or younger. According to the Office of Minority Health (OMH), suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34 years in this population. The OMH also notes that high school students in this population were 40% more likely to attempt suicide in 2023.
These high suicide rates may have strong links to the long history of systemic oppression American Indian and Alaska Native communities have faced. Research from 2022 links suicides and suicide attempts in these communities to historical trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A 2022 study Trusted Source from the CDC found that American Indian and Alaska Native people who died by suicide were more likely than people of other races to:
use amphetamines or cannabis (but not other drugs)
experience relationship problems or significant loss
Only about 2 in 5 had a diagnosis of a mental health condition. Experts think this may be due to a lack of accessible mental health services, particularly in rural areas.
Non-Hispanic white people in the United States have a suicide rate a bit higher than the national average. This is largely due to higher suicide rates among white males 25 to 64 years old Trusted Source, particularly in those with a high school education or less.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, more than two-thirds of all suicide deaths in the United States in 2022 were white males.
Still, in 2022, white people were the only racial group to show a decline in overall suicide rates, dropping 3.9%Trusted Source from 2018. The recent decline reverses an 18-year trend Trusted Source of rising suicide rates among white U.S. residents.
Historically, people who identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander have been grouped with Asian Americans for data collection purposes. But several distinct communities exist within these definitions. Acknowledging the differences may be key to understanding the disparity in suicide rates between these groups.
For example, a 2024 study found that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adolescents were much more likely to have suicidal thoughts than youth with Chinese or Indian backgrounds.
Researchers also found significant differences in rates between young people who identified with one race (Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander) and those who identified as multiracial.
According to a 2022 study, suicide risk factors for youth in this population include:
Researchers also found that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island youth were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide than their white peers when depressive symptoms were present. Study authors say this stresses the importance of screening for depressive symptoms in this population.
Suicide rates among non-Hispanic Black people in the United States rose 19.2%Trusted Source from 2018 to 2021, the second highest among any racial group. This was largely fueled by an increase in Black youth suicide rates, which rose 36.6% in the same time frame.
In 2021, Black high school students were 60% more likely than their white peers to attempt suicide. While Black people die from suicide at about half the rate as white people, the rates are almost equal among those 15 to 19 years old.
And while males account for about 4 in 5Trusted Source suicides, including in Black populations, the rise in rates is highest among Black females ages 15 to 24 years.
A 2021 study observed key differences among varying age groups of Black youth with respect to risk factors and methods used. For example:
Youth ages 12 to 14 were more likely to experience relationship problems and attempt more lethal means.
Youth ages 15 to 17 were more likely to have depression or more complex social problems and use firearms.
Experts recommend targeted approaches to reach the youth who most need care. They also acknowledge that Black youth are less likely to receive mental health care due to several factors, including access and stigma.
According to 2017 research, Hispanic people often face stressors that are typical risk factors for suicide, such as socioeconomic challenges, migration, and discrimination. Still, Hispanic people in the United States die by suicide at less than half Trusted Source the rate of white people.
Researchers attribute this to two prevalent characteristics: religion, which plays an important role in many Hispanic communities, and familism, which is a cultural ideal that places family above self.
However, suicide rates have been rising steadily, especially among Hispanic females. Researchers also found that rates increased with later generations. For example, suicide rates are lower in the first generation of immigrants than in the next generation.
New immigrants still face unique challenges to their mental health. Among Hispanic immigrants and their relatives, a 2022 article notes that restrictive immigration policies, deportation fears, and anti-immigrant sentiment can contribute to worsening mental health and possibly an increase in suicidal ideation.
Among this group, risk factors for suicidal thoughts include:
experiencing discrimination
lower ethnic identity
greater family conflict
low sense of belonging
A concern in the Hispanic community is the lack of culturally competent mental health and suicide prevention programs. Language proficiency can often be a barrier, with 28% of Hispanic people in the United States not having proficiency in English.
Asian Americans have the lowest suicide rates among major racial groups in the United States, though rates can vary significantly between subgroups. However, like with other racial groups, suicide rates among Asian youth are rising sharply, especially for females.
Research from 2024 found that Asian American people who die by suicide are less likely to have risk factors common in other racial groups. For example, they’re less likely to be male, married, or use alcohol or drugs. They’re also less likely to have mental health, relationship, or legal problems.
This can create challenges in identifying people who may need help. However, known risk factors in this racial group include:
living in disadvantaged communities
residential instability
mixed race or ethnicity
A unique risk factor in this population, especially for women, is the model minority myth. This myth creates a false standard for success for many people of Asian descent and can be a significant stressor.
Identity and suicide rates: Other factors
Race can often be an important aspect of who we are, but it’s not all that we are. We all identify with several groups based on culture, gender, location, interests, and more. Other factors related to your identity that may influence suicide risk include Trusted Source:
Some of the reasons for the racial disparities in suicide rates are deep-rooted and systemic.
Overcoming these challenges would not only require action and advocacy from family members, community members, and healthcare professionals but also structural changes from government, institutional, and corporate entities. These include:
improving access to mental health services, such as strengthening telehealth services
increased funding for youth crisis intervention teams
Experts also recommend Trusted Source advocating for structural changes that improve economic and social conditions, which can have a significant effect on suicide risk.
In our own families and communities, we can be mindful of the unique risk factors that lead to higher suicide rates and facilitate atmospheres where people feel safe to talk about their mental health.
Suicide rates have fluctuated over the years, but significant disparities across racial and ethnic groups have persisted. The widening gap in suicide rates, especially among young people, underscores the need for targeted, culturally competent suicide prevention strategies.
Awareness of the complex factors that contribute to the unique risk factors for suicide across diverse racial groups is an important starting point.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at [email protected] and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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