A group of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professors is leading new research on rising suicide rates among Black youth to understand how school discipline may contribute to long-term mental health outcomes.
Researchers include Constance Lindsay, assistant professor at the UNC School of Education, and associate professors Marissa Marraccini and Dana Griffin. According to a report by UNC’s communications office, their goal is to examine how both school-based and external factors affect the mental health of Black students, especially young Black males.
“As we know, these rates are going up, so we are trying to investigate why,” Lindsay said in a university report published by UNC’s communications staff.
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The issue surrounding suicides among Black youth is a growing concern nationwide. In fact, suicide was the third leading cause of death among Black youth ages 10 to 24 in 2021, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Research also shows Black adolescents are more likely than white teens to attempt suicide, even though they’re less likely to be diagnosed or receive treatment for mental health issues.
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As for Black adults, a 2023 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that they are more likely than white adults to experience persistent emotional distress. But only one in three Black adults with a mental illness receives treatment, due to stigma, socioeconomic barriers, and a lack of culturally competent care.
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Meanwhile, the UNC team is working to understand the early roots of these disparities, focusing on Black youth in both school and home environments.
By looking at the impact of school discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, they aim to better understand how these experiences influence mental health later in life, according to the UNC report.
The collaboration began after Lindsay learned about Marraccini and Griffin’s research during a faculty lightning symposium, where each professor presents a short overview of their work. That initial meeting sparked a shared interest in mental health equity, and the group soon began developing a joint research paper during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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That paper, published in School Psychology Review, focused on giving school-based professionals — including counselors, teachers and administrators — tools and frameworks to support younger Black males dealing with trauma, justice, and mental health challenges.
The success of that project opened the door to further work. In 2023, the Student Experience Research Network awarded the team a grant to collect more data. Later, the Walton Family Foundation also provided funding to expand their research nationally.
The group recently submitted a paper analyzing education policies across all 50 states that affect Black youth, using a quantitative lens to better understand how systemic issues contribute to disparities in outcomes.
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So far, they have interviewed school counselors and administrators. Next, they plan to include parents in their study. Their work is also being integrated into UNC’s school counseling and school psychology programs, which train future professionals to support K-12 students.
“Being at a place like Carolina where I can collaborate with other schools and professors made me want to dig deeper,” Lindsay said.
The professors say their goal is not only to conduct research but also to provide real solutions. They hope to show school-based professionals the long-term impact that school discipline can have on a child’s well-being.
“We want to offer solutions,” said Lindsay. “Our research has a holistic way of thinking about mental health that is useful for interacting with youth, so there is a lot of potential moving forward.”
Their findings could have important implications for schools in North Carolina and beyond. “It’s about more than just what happens in the classroom,” Lindsay said. “It’s about building systems that support our youth long after they leave school.”
