Completed suicides in a youth centres population.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Psychiatry
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents in Quebec.
• Over one-third of youth suicides between 1995-2000 involved individuals who had accessed youth centre (YC) services.
• Understanding the characteristics of these at-risk youth is vital for enhancing support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize adolescents who died by suicide after receiving services from youth centres (YCs).
• To identify key clinical features and risk factors within this population.
• To inform the development of improved services for at-risk youth.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study analyzing youth centre (YC) and coroner's office files.
• Investigation of clinical features of youths who died by suicide and received YC services.
• Comparison with matched YC patients exhibiting suicidal behavior or no symptoms.

Main Results:

• A male predominance was observed (3.8:1 ratio) with a mean age of 16.8 years.
• Hanging was the most common method (73.6%), and over half (53.6%) had a prior suicide attempt.
• Suicidal youth exhibited higher rates of major depression, substance abuse, disruptive behaviors, and adverse life events.

Conclusions:

• Initial contact with youth centres (YCs) presents a critical opportunity for screening mental disorders and suicidal behaviors.
• Implementation of screening protocols by a multidisciplinary medical team, including psychoeducational services, is recommended.
• Proactive identification and intervention are essential for reducing youth suicide rates.