image: Abhishek Reddy is a faculty member and associate professor in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry.
Credit: Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech.
There has been a notable rise in child and adolescent suicides in recent years, particularly in the United States. Suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death among children, adolescents, and young adults ages 15 to 24, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and a new study by a Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine faculty member is shedding light on factors that may be contributing to the rise.
Child and adolescent psychiatry physician Abhishek Reddy shares details about his team’s research that examines the time of day, screen use and medication type related to overdose suicide attempts. “The main goal in identifying these factors is to help develop ways to reduce the number of suicides and self-harm among children and adolescents,” he said.
Reddy will present his research, “Adolescent Overdose Suicide Attempts: Associations with Time of Day, Screen Use, and Medication Type,” at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry annual meeting Oct. 20-25 in Chicago.
Research findings
Reddy and his trainee, Timothy Ferrebee, who is a Carilion Clinic child and adolescent resident psychiatry physician, collected data from patients ages 12 to 17 who were admitted to the child and adolescent psychiatry unit following an intentional overdose suicide attempt. Preliminary data suggests that intentional overdose suicide attempts in adolescents are significantly more likely to occur during nighttime hours and in the context of recent screen use. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications are frequently used.
“Researchers have previously found links between screen use, suicidal behaviors, sleep problems, and mental health challenges in children. We wanted to examine the combination of those factors as well as the availability of prescription and OTC medications when it comes to overdoses,” Reddy said. “Our findings support clinical recommendations related to these factors.”
Recommendations
Limit children’s access to screens, especially an hour before bedtime.
Reddy cites the importance of disconnecting from screens such as smartphones and social media. He says parents can use screen time as a positive by making it a reward for behaviors such as completing homework or chores. Reddy notes that exposure to social media at a young age can cause mental health issues especially during children’s formative years. “Children who struggle with bullying at school can end up taking it home with them and seeing messages at night, when they are at their most vulnerable,” he said.
Practice good sleep hygiene.
Reddy says parents should help their children develop a bedtime routine to unwind from the day’s stresses. A warm bath or shower and reading before bed are examples. He also suggests refraining from sugary treats and drinks with caffeine in the evening to help children get a good night’s sleep.
Reduce access to both prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Reddy says that if a child is exhibiting mental health struggles, parents should secure both prescription and over-the-counter medications. His study of children who attempted suicide by overdose found the number that involved prescription medications did not differ significantly from those involving OTC medications.
About Reddy
Abhishek Reddy is a faculty member and associate professor in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. He works at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke with specialties in child and adolescent psychiatry and sleep medicine.