[The population-based study of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents in the Russian Federation in 2023]

To study suicidal behavior in minors and develop proposals for additional measures when organizing the work of various prevention entities in relation to children and adolescents.

Two questionnaires were developed for analyzing cases of suicide and suicide attempts by minors, each consisting of 9 sections. They include 46 social, medical, impersonal parameters that are significant and presumably influencing the formation of suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. Heads of psychiatric services presented data on 429 cases of suicide and 2.547 suicide attempts. The total number is 2.976 cases.

Older adolescents predominate among minors with suicidal behavior. Out of the total number of respondents who died as a result of suicide, 62.0% (n=266) were aged 15-17 years and 35.7% (n=153) were aged 10-14 years. It is noteworthy that 18.7% of respondents who attempted suicide and 7.5% of those whose suicide ended in death had previously committed auto-aggressive acts. In 1577 (53.0%) cases, minors with suicidal behavior had problems integrating into their peer group, were subjected to cruel treatment, sexual violence, ridicule and bullying, including through the information environment, and reported conflicts at their place of study. Only in 59.4% of cases (n=1514) individuals with suicide attempts receive specialized medical care from a psychiatrist in order to prevent repeated suicidal behavior.

Based on the population study, additional proposals are made for the further development of the system of state measures for the prevention of suicide among minors, which are necessary for interdepartmental cooperation at the present stage.