Investigating Disciplinary Risk in Urban High Schools as a Precursor for Suicide-Related Behaviors among Black Students

Abstract

School-level factors associated with Black students’ overrepresentation in school discipline outcomes (suspensions, expulsions, referrals to law enforcement, and arrests at school) operate to create a climate district-wide that reinforces educational trauma. This study aims to ascertain if school disciplinary risk influenced the suicide outcomes among high school Black boys and girls in seven urban school districts in the U.S. and to determine if the presence of student support personnel in the district influenced suicide outcomes. Results indicated that the risk of receiving an out-of-school suspension was positively associated with suicide outcomes for Black girls and the increase in student support personnel in the district negatively influenced Black girls' suicide outcomes. For Black boys, school support offered mixed associations. recommendations are provided to protect Black children from the school discipline-to-suicide pipeline. Ultimately, we hope to promote the social and emotional assets of Black children while protecting them from educational trauma.