[Suicide in childhood or accidental hanging? A case report]

Suicides of children, adolescents and young adults are a rare manner of death. Hanging is the dominant suicide method in all age groups. Risk factors for suicide at a young age are mental diseases, use of illicit drugs, antisocial behaviour and problems within the family. A 10-year-old boy was found to have hanged himself with a scarf at the handrail of a staircase. He had had school problems and was often sent home earlier as he tended to disturb classes. In the week prior to his death the headmaster of his school had told him that he should better attend another type of school. The deceased's elder brother had recorded a video with his mobile phone some years before showing his sister in a simulated hanging situation. Apart from the macroscopic and microscopic findings of the reported case, the frequency and special characteristics of suicides in childhood and adolescence are discussed.