Vulnerable phases in adolescence represented by means of committed suicide

This study deals with suicides of children and adolescents in the region of Tyrol, Austria from 1976-1984. The upper age limit was set at 19 years. During the time period stated above, 54 suicides were registered for the relevant age group, using police records as a source of information. Special attention was paid to the distribution of age, sex and occupation, as well as to the suicide methods. As far as age distribution is concerned, a significant increase of suicides was registered at the age of 15 and again at the age of 19. According to the authors, the reason for this increase is pronounced psychosocial changes which occur especially in these age groups and weaken social integration. The various implications ensuing from the available data are discussed.