Police Contact, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, and Suicidal Ideation: Findings From a National Sample of Canadian Adolescents and Young Adults

Dylan B. Jackson, Alexander Testa, Rebecca L. Fix, Daniel C. Semenza, Jason M. Nagata, Kyle T. Ganson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this research is to investigate associations between police contact, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicidal ideation (SI) among a national sample of Canadian adolescents and young adults (ages 16-30). Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors (N = 940), a national survey of Canadians ages 16-30. Results: Police contact was associated with higher odds of NSSI (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.37, 2.86). Those who reported police contact with intrusion (OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.49, 3.38) and police contact with harassment (OR = 3.98, 95% CI = 2.30, 6.88) had higher odds of NSSI relative to respondents with no contact. Finally, any police contact was associated with higher odds of SI (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.04, 2.34) and respondents experiencing police stops with harassment had higher odds of SI compared to those who had never been stopped (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.45, 4.24). Conclusions: Distressing police contact heightens the risk of NSSI and SI among young people. Rigorous evaluation of trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate strategies for identifying and intervening on NSSI and SI following adverse police encounters should be prioritized.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)202-208
Number of pages7
JournalFamily and Community Health
Volume47
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Keywords

  • adolescent
  • mental health: suicidal ideation
  • non-suicidal self injury
  • police harassment
  • police intrusion
  • young adult

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