Risk and protective factors of suicide ideation and attempts among justice-involved black girls: A latent profile analysis

Background: Justice-involved female youth from minority racial groups are a hard-to-reach youth population that are removed from schools, families, and communities. They are under-represented in school survey data. The present study aimed to utilise the Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide to examine the distinct patterns of risk and protective factors of suicide thoughts and behaviours (STBs) among black girls in juvenile justice facilities.Methods: Utilising state-wide screening data of black girls in juvenile justice facilities (n = 1 564; mean age = 13.55 years, SD = 1.69 years) collected over 11 years (2009 to 2019), the study employed latent profile analysis to identify different profiles of risk behaviour related to suicide. The "Mclust" package, an R statistical package, was used to conduct the latent profile analysis.Results: Six latent profiles emerged based on nine indicators of thwarted belongingness, burdensomeness, and acquired capacity. Membership in these latent groups significantly predicted lifetime and current suicide ideation and attempts.Conclusions: The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide showed potential applicability to the population of justice-involved black girls. There was heterogeneity in suicide vulnerability in this population. Mental health, substance use, and traumatic experiences simultaneously characterised the suicide-vulnerable subgroups among justice-involved black girls.