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Suicide methods in children and adolescents
1Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Level 1, Building M24 Psychology, 176 Messines Ridge Road, Mt Gravatt, QLD, 4122, Australia. k.kolves@griffith.edu.au.
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
|May 20, 2016
Summary
Suicide methods in adolescents aged 10-19 vary globally, with hanging being most common. Understanding these patterns, influenced by method availability and media, is key to preventing youth suicides worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Background:
- Suicide methods exhibit significant international variations.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for targeted prevention strategies, especially in vulnerable youth populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and describe suicide methods used by children and adolescents (10-19 years) across different countries.
- To identify patterns and geographical similarities in youth suicide methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilized World Health Organization (WHO) Mortality Database (ICD-10 X codes) and World Bank population data (2000-2009).
- Performed cluster analysis on suicide methods by gender for countries with sufficient data (≥5 years, ≥10 cases).
Main Results:
- Hanging was the most frequent method overall.
- Pesticide poisoning was common for females; firearms for males.
- Four distinct clusters of suicide methods were identified for both genders, with hanging and pesticide poisoning being significant defining factors. Geographical similarities were observed.
Conclusions:
- Youth suicide methods mirror overall population patterns regarding lethality, availability, and acceptability of means.
- Means restriction presents a strong potential for preventing youth suicides globally.
- Addressing cognitive availability, influenced by media reporting, is also critical for suicide prevention efforts.