Suicide Risk Elevated Among Young Adults with Disabilities
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young adults. But for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the crisis is even worse.
Suicide remains one of the most pressing public health crises affecting young adults today, with devastating consequences. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among individuals aged 18 to 25, with a 51% increase in suicide deaths between 2000 and 2021.
While this trend is deeply concerning for the general population, it is even more alarming for young adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) – a group long overlooked in suicide prevention efforts.
Research by Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ and collaborators, published in the journal , sheds light on the growing concern of suicidality among young adults with IDD and the significant gaps in existing public health responses. Researchers conducted an extensive review of the literature to explore the elevated risk factors, theoretical frameworks, and practical prevention strategies urgently needed to address suicide in this vulnerable population.
“For too long, there has been a misconception that individuals with IDD are somehow protected from sui