A Roadmap for Preventing Youth Suicide

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24 in the United States. Among U.S. youth who die, over one in four die from suicide. It’s a heartbreaking reality—and one that has been getting worse for decades. 

Young people deserve to grow up healthy, hopeful, and supported. But today, many are struggling. Social pressures. Family hardships. Academic challenges. In our post-COVID world, feelings of isolation, grief, and anxiety are on the rise. In early 2021, emergency room statistics showed that suicide attempts among teens jumped by 31% compared to two years earlier. 

Suicide touches youth from all backgrounds but some are even more vulnerable. Many young people of color—especially Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Asian American youth—face added stress from racism, discrimination, and lack of access to care. LGBTQ2S+ youth, youth in foster care, those in rural or low-income communities, and youth facing housing or family instability also experience higher risks and fewer resources. 

The Challenge 

Preventing youth suicide is both urgent and deeply complex. It’s difficult to reach and support young people at risk for many reasons. Some key barriers include: 

• The stigma around mental health and suicide leaves many young people and their families ashamed or afraid to talk about mental health struggles.
• Systemic inequities and discrimination are ongoing and often unaddressed by traditional mental health systems.
• Adults who interact with youth often miss or misunderstand warning signs.
• Young people—especially Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian American, and LGBTQ2S+ youth—can’t always access comprehensive, effective, and culturally appropriate care.
• COVID-19 created a lingering effect that disrupted routines, relationships, and access to services. 

The Solution 

The Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention is a roadmap jointly designed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in collaboration with experts from the National Institute of Mental Health. It helps pediatricians and other health professionals identify equitable youth suicide prevention strategies and key partnerships where youth live, learn, work, and spend time. 

As a first step in designing the Blueprint, AAP, AFSP, and NIMH held a multidisciplinary Virtual Summit on Youth Suicide Prevention to gather first-hand experiences and expertise. of the unique features of the Blueprint is the wide range of voices included: pediatric clinicians, researchers, public health professionals, school health personnel, community partners serving youth from under-resourced communities, federal agencies, and people with lived experience.  

The team used those insights to inform the Blueprint, which takes a holistic approach to suicide prevention that combines clinical community strategies with advocacy and policy opportunities for pediatricians. 

At the core is an evidence-based, three-tiered clinical pathway that guides pediatricians on how to identify and support youth at risk for suicide.  

The pathway includes three main steps:  

• A brief suicide risk screening for all patients ages 12 years and older, using a validated tool.
• An assessment that guides the implementation of appropriate safety measures for youth who screen positive.
• Next steps for care, based on the information gathered during the assessment. 

The Results 

Since its publication in 2021, the Blueprint has been viewed more than 264,000 times and endorsed by 19 medical and public health organizations. “I feel like I’m really able to have a very meaningful impact on my patients’ lives,” wrote one pediatrician in a blog post from the National Health Council. 

The work started within the Blueprint is just the beginning. In 2025, the AAP published five new clinical resources on suicide prevention and engaged teens from the Suicide Prevention Youth Leadership Group to create new print and video materials. With funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the AAP is developing a new program that provides a comprehensive suicide prevention training protocol for pediatric primary care settings. Research is underway, with the protocol set to be finalized in Spring 2026. Pending future funding, the AAP will pilot the protocol with up to 15 pediatric practices across the country. The ultimate goal is expanding to a full nationwide level. 

Suicide is complex but often preventable. The Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention is a lifeline for pediatric health clinicians and community organizations so they, in turn, can be a lifeline for kids in crisis. That has the power to make a profound difference to adolescents and families for years to come.