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Published on: January 29, 2018
Unexpected deaths of children and young people in the UK
Paul Stallard1, Michelle Maguire2, Justin Daddow2
1University of Bath.
Insights
Many children who died by suicide were not known to mental health services. Improved training and data collection are crucial for preventing child suicide.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Forensic Psychology
Background:
- Child and youth suicide is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the circumstances surrounding these deaths is vital for prevention.
- Gaps in mental health service engagement are a critical area for investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review child and young person suicides within a specific National Health Service (NHS) trust.
- To analyze serious incident reports and child death overview panel reviews.
- To identify trends and risk factors associated with youth suicide.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of serious incident reports.
- Review of child death overview panel findings.
- Data extraction on demographics, mental health service contact, and suicide methods.
Main Results:
- 23 child and young person suicides were identified.
- Over half (56%) were not known to specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
- Hanging was the most common method (87%), with half being low-level hangings.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced training is needed for healthcare professionals to recognize and assess at-risk youth.
- Specialist child mental health services must address hanging attempts and provide appropriate advice.
- Routine publication of national, age-specific suicide data for children and young people is recommended.
Abstract:
Aims and method To review the deaths of children and young people who took their own life. We conducted a retrospective analysis of serious incident reports from a National Health Service trust and reviews by the child death overview panels of the local safeguarding children boards. Results We identified 23 deaths, with annual rates varying considerably between local authorities and over time. Over half of the children (n = 13, 56%) were not known to specialist child and adolescent mental health services, with 11 having no contact with any agency at the time of their death. Hanging was the most common method (n = 20, 87%) and of these, half (n = 11, 55%) were low-level hangings. Clinical implications Training is required to improve awareness, recognition and the assessment of children at risk of taking their own life. Specialist child mental health services should directly assess plans or attempts at hanging and offer advice about the seriousness of attempting this. National data (by age) on children and young people who take their own life should be routinely published to inform clinical and preventive services.
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