An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Approach to Adolescent Suicide

Approximately 4,600 American adolescents commit suicide each year, and adolescent suicide rates are on the rise. The consequences of suicidal behavior are far-reaching, and understanding the development of patterns that contribute to ideation and attempt are crucial to prevention and intervention. This paper outlines an experiential avoidance model of suicidality and discusses an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) approach to treating adolescent suicidal behavior. A case study is reviewed, along with literature relevant to the risk factors and trajectories correlated with suicide in adolescents. Although recent evidence indicates that ACT is generally useful with adolescents with related concerns, a thorough literature review indicates that no specific work has investigated the efficacy of ACT for suicidal behavior in youth.