Adolescence and suicide: A review of psychological autopsy studies

These studies show that the majority of adolescent suicide completers has suffered from severe psychosocial symptoms, and approximately two thirds of the victims have communicated their suicidal intentions, and about one third has made a previous suicide attempt.

Abstract

Increasing suicide rates among youth in many European and other Western countries have prompted growing public concern. In this article, psychological autopsy studies and complementary results from other studies of adolescent completed suicide are reviewed. These studies show that the majority of adolescent suicide completers has suffered from severe psychosocial symptoms. Approximately two thirds of the victims have communicated their suicidal intentions, and about one third has made a previous suicide attempt. Less than half of the adolescent victims have been under psychiatric care, and even fewer at the time of suicide. Current knowledge on the specific risk factors for adolescent completed suicide is not conclusive. Further research is needed for understanding e.g. the mediating mechanisms of family related risk factors, and the role of antisocial and aggressive behaviour in adolescent suicide.