(PS2-C72) Examining the Validity of a Composite Measure of Core Items on the CAMS Suicide Status Form (SSF) with a History of Suicide Attempts Among a Sample of Rural Adolescents

Suicide is a leading cause of death across all age groups and is now the second leading cause of death for adolescents ages 12 to 17. Based on Center for Disease Control and Prevention data collected over a 20-year period (1999-2019), rural youth died by suicide at nearly twice the rate (7.6/100k) of their urban counterparts (3.9/100k). Given these data, identifying, preventing, and treating suicidality in rural adolescent populations is crucial. One of the few empirically derived suicide assessment methods is the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) model. Based on several randomized controlled trials and a recently published meta-analysis, CAMS has been associated with reduced suicidal thoughts and attempts, increased hope, fewer ER visits, and reduced self-harm. Most of these findings are based on adult samples, though the number of empirical CAMS studies with adolescents is growing steadily. While results from these studies are promising, no studies to date have examined the use of CAMS with adolescents in rural outpatient settings. Given the importance of preventing suicide death among teens and the need to understand better its utility in adolescents in rural settings, the aim of the current study is to assess the relationship between self-reported items on the CAMS Suicide Status Form (SSF) and history of suicide attempts after accounting for gender. Research suggests gender differences in suicidal behavior in adolescents, with females reporting a higher prevalence of suicide attempts compared to males, and males having a higher incidence of death by suicide than females.

In the current study, archival, CAMS data was collected from 86 adolescents, aged 14-18 (M = 15.8; SD = 1.32), in an outpatient setting (35% female, 64% male, and 1% gender diverse). The Initial CAMS SSF was administered between 2017 and 2021 in the context of a school mental health program implemented in three rural high schools in the southeast. Of the total sample (n = 86), 81% identified as White and 19% identified as Hispanic or BIPOC. A Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was conducted to examine the validity of a composite measure of the core items (five known correlates of suicidality: psychological pain, stress, agitation, hopelessness, and self-hate) and a history of suicide attempts (0 = no prior attempts; 1 = one prior attempt; and 2 = two or more attempts). Less than half (43%; n = 37) of the sample reported a past suicide attempt. Among those with a suicide attempt history, 57% (n = 21) reported one past suicide attempt, and 43% (n = 16) reported two or more past suicide attempts. Additional analyses are being conducted and will be presented at the 2022 conference.