Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Suicides

The incidence of suicide increases rapidly throughout teenage years. While globally suicide rates are approximately 1 per 100,000 in the age group 10-14 years,they rise almost 10-fold in age group 15-19 years. This phenomenon is not unexpected, as it coincides with major developmental changes of a maturing young person. Suicide rates stabilize in early adulthood.

Suicides in adolescents are impacted by a variety of factors including: psychological, psychiatric, genetic, social and cultural factor. Although there are several studies focusing on adolescent suicide and suicidal behaviours, only a limited number compare characteristics of child and adolescent suicides, or adolescent and young adult suicides. Considering major developmental differences between these groups, the aim of the current analysis was to examine demographic, psychosocial and psychiatric differences in suicides in three youngest age groups – children/early adolescents (10-14 years), late adolescents (15-19 years) and young adults (20-24 years) - in Queensland, Australia, between 2002 and 2011. Read more............