Suicide Rates Among Young Teens Now Nearly Equal for Boys and Girls
A new analysis shows that the suicide rate for 10- to 14-year-old boys was twice that of girls in 2017, but by 2024 the gap narrowed to just 4%. The rate for boys dropped 35% from 2018 to 2024, while girls saw a 13% increase. The researcher notes this is the first time in available records that rates are nearly identical for this age group.
The analysis, published in JAMA Pediatrics, reveals the narrowing gap across racial and geographic lines. In 2024, suicide rates for Black girls surpassed those of Black boys, and urban and suburban girls also exceeded their male peers. Similar gender-gap collapses have recently appeared in Japan, South Korea, and Spain.
Twenge notes that suicide remains the second leading cause of death for this cohort, who are typically in fourth through ninth grade. She suggests prevention efforts have successfully lowered boys' rates since 2018, but not girls'. Targeted attention to risk factors like social comparison, relational bullying, excessive social media use, and self-harm could be crucial.
The converging rates could reshape how schools and pediatricians screen for suicide risk, as traditional assumptions that boys are at higher risk may lead to missed warning signs in girls. This shift may prompt broader, gender-neutral prevention strategies in middle schools. Parents and educators could see increased urgency around social media and bullying interventions, potentially influencing funding for mental health resources targeting younger adolescents.