Trends in Adolescent Completed Suicide in Croatia for the Period of 2000 to 2020

Croatia belongs to the countries with a medium mortality rate due to suicide in youths. Previous epidemiological reports indicated a decreasing trend of suicide rates in adolescents. However, recent trend analysis in youth suicide rates in Croatia are missing. This study aimed to describe recent trends in child and adolescent completed suicide in Croatia and to compare the rates and methods of suicide ("means") across demographic groups.

Data from the Croatian Committed Suicide Registry were used to calculate age-specific rates of suicide from 2000 to 2020 among 0 to 24 year olds, overall and by age, gender, and means of suicide.

The total average suicide rate for Croatian children and adolescents during the study period was 4.12 per 100,000. The male-female ratio was 4.1:1. The total youth suicide rate and male suicide rate significantly declined from 2000 to 2020; however, the decrease in female rates did not reach statistical significance. Nearly half of all suicides among Croatian youth of both gender occurred through hanging, whereas using firearms was the second-most common suicide method in males and jumping from a height in females.

Suicide rates among children and adolescents in Croatia continue to decrease. High-risk groups include adolescents aged 20-24 years and male youth, so these data should be considered when designing prevention programmes for youth suicide.