To examine responses to the psychological needs of adolescent injury
victims, the records of all adolescents hospitalized at an urban trauma
center during a one-year period for injury by gunshots, stabbings, and
physical assaults (N = 59) were compared with the records of adolescents
admitted that year for attempting suicide (N = 28). Victims of intentional
injuries received significantly lower levels of psychosocial interventions
than suicide attempters, and access to such interventions appeared to be
influenced by gender and race. Intentionally injured adolescents may not
receive available interventions for the psychosocial consequences of their
injuries.
Abstract Teaser