Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts are more common in Latina adolescents than White or African–American adolescents. Several health risk behaviors have been identified as being associated with Latina adolescent suicides. However, to date, no study has identified the consistency and stability of these risk behaviors over time. This study utilized the national Youth Risk Behaviors Survey from 2001 to 2013 to estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and health risk behaviors associated with suicidal behaviors in Latina adolescents. Our analysis found the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts varied significantly over the 13-year study span, decreasing from 2001 to 2009 and increased from 2011 to 2013. The analyses found 11 health risk behaviors that were significantly associated with both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts that did not vary over time. The stability of these 11 health risk behaviors associated with suicidal behaviors could be useful to school personnel to identify early at risk Latina adolescents who may benefit from school and community mental health resources. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Hispanic Suicide attempts Latino Suicidal ideation Self-harm health behaviors Mental health

sexual behavior human epidemiology suicide attempt Substance-Related Disorders Suicide, Attempted drug dependence ethnology Hispanic Americans Body Image United States Humans psychology Hispanic Adolescent female risk factor Risk Factors high risk behavior Adolescent Behavior Health Risk Behaviors suicidal ideation