International Journal of Education and Social Science (IJESS)

Suicide is a multifaceted issue, and its prevention requires addressing multiple contributors. Currently, it is the third leading cause of death worldwide for those ages 15-44, the eleventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the eighth leading cause of death among U. S. men. Among African American males aged 20-44, suicide is the third, fifth, and sixth leading cause of death, respectively, when categorizing the age groups as 20-24, 25-34, and 35-44. Suicide is defined by Pearson, Stanley, King, & Fisher (2001) as “death from self-inflicted injury where there is evidence that the decedent intended to kill himself/herself,” it is a complex public health problem requiring the investigation of multiple factors. The occurrence of suicide has been deemed a global health issue. The suicide rate for African Americans males, 14 to 20 years old, rose to the highest rate compared to any other demographic in 2019. Despite the high incidence of suicide in men, remarkably little is known about its contributing factors. This study investigated the risk and protective factors associated with suicide and suicide attempts among African American males. Few studies have focused, however, on addressing suicidal behavior among African American males. To reinforce prevention, a need exists to examine preceding behavior to suicide, specifically suicide attempts.