Rheumatoid arthritis in the public eye: a study on awareness and knowledge levels in the United Arab Emirates.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents and represents a major global public health concern (). In the United States, suicide rates among pediatric age groups have increased substantially over recent decades, with many serious attempts resulting in admission to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) (). This persistent rise in childhood and adolescent suicide has prompted increasing recognition of suicide prevention as a public health priority (, ). Numerous psychosocial and environmental factors have been associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and adolescents. These include appearance-related distress, experiences related to sexual orientation or gender identity, physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence, bullying, discrimination, humiliation, family conflict, and social isolation (). Suicide attempts requiring PICU admission are typically among the most severe and potentially lethal forms of self-harm, placing these patients within a particularly high-risk population. Consequently, increasing attention has been directed toward identifying potentially recognizable warning signs that may precede severe suicide attempts (, , ). Importantly, the distribution and expression of these factors vary considerably according to sociocultural, economic, ethnic, and geographic contexts. Even within the same country, substantial differences may exist between regions, cities, and communities (, , , ). Understanding local patterns of vulnerability may facilitate earlier recognition of at-risk children and adolescents, strengthen preventive interventions, and support timely referral to mental health services when indicated (, , , ).