Recent trends in suicide amongst the young

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Suicide incidence rises with age after 14, with males predominantly affected.
• Adolescent suicide rates in England and Wales have shown an upward trend since the 1950s for both sexes, with a notable recent increase in males.
• A small but increasing number of suicides among females aged 10-14 years was observed between 1941-50 and 1971-80.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in suicide rates among young people in England and Wales.
• To investigate the rise in undetermined deaths in younger age groups.
• To examine the increase in poisoning deaths and their relation to suicide and accidental deaths.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of national suicide statistics for England and Wales.
• Examination of age-specific and sex-specific suicide rates over several decades.
• Comparison of trends in officially recorded suicides, undetermined deaths, and poisoning fatalities.

Main Results:

• Suicide rates have increased in 15-19 year olds since the 1950s, with a recent sharp rise in males.
• There is a disproportionate increase in undetermined deaths among the young.
• Deaths by poisoning (suicide, accidental, undetermined) have markedly increased in young individuals.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent suicide is a growing public health concern, especially for males.
• The rise in undetermined deaths warrants further investigation into their potential link to suicides.
• The increasing trend in poisoning deaths among youth necessitates a closer examination of the interplay between suicide, accidental poisoning, and undetermined poisoning.