Suicide in children: Concept analysis using Rodgers's evolutionary approach

Although the concept of suicide in children and adolescents is widely present in the literature, its conceptual definition varies according to context, discipline, and time. How this concept is defined impacts the delivery of care to children and adolescents regarding suicide prevention in mental health settings and in the community.

Using Rodgers's evolutionary method, we examined the antecedents, attributes, and consequences of "suicide in children" through temporal trends, and geographic locations.

In total, 106 articles were included. Searches were performed using CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Medline, as well as Google Scholar as a complementary tool.

Through a thematic analysis, we identified three themes: (1) developmental perspectives, (2) factors predicting suicide in children, and (3) the emancipation of children as active agents in society. Recent literature shows a movement toward acknowledging the voice of children and adolescents regarding suicide. We address clinical and future implications for the development of this concept.