Suicide prevention in pediatric health care settings

Given recent trends demonstrating increased suicide risk among youth, particularly those from minoritized populations, youth suicide is a major public health concern. Evidence-based practices for the identification and management of youth suicide risk have been developed, yet many challenges exist to implementing them routinely in health care settings. Suggestions for leveraging publicly available resources, gathering […]

Suicide among rural primary school learners in Zimbabwe: An epidemic in need of mitigation

The alarming rise of suicide cases among rural primary school students in Zimbabwe has become a major concern, as there is a significant lack of research on the root causes of suicide and effective prevention methods. This article aimed to address that gap by exploring Zimbabwe rural primary learners’ perspectives on the factors driving them […]

Neurodevelopmental disorders and suicide: A narrative review

Specific risk factors for self-harm and suicide in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) may differ from those in the general population within this age range. In the present review paper, we conducted a narrative analysis of the literature, aiming to establish a connection between suicide and affective disorders in children and adolescents with […]

Moving the dial on children’s rights in Manitoba: Summary assessment of government compliance with recommendations made under the Advocate for Children and Youth Act

This report, titled Moving the Dial on Children’s Rights in Manitoba, is the fourth compliance report that MACY has released, and signifies the fifth full year under the current ACYA legislation. With five years to reflect  upon, and 80 total recommendations issued, this is a fitting moment to take stock of the progress achieved so […]

Use of tobacco products and suicide attempts among elementary school-aged children

Objective To examine whether the use of tobacco products is associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation (SI), and suicide attempts (SAs) among preadolescent children. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study, conducted from September 1, 2022, to September 5, 2023, included participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, a population-based cohort of 11 868 […]

Growing as we grieve: A special guide for providers supporting children who are grieving

When supporting a grieving child, it can be difficult to know where to start. Use this guide to gain a foundational understanding of how grief may look and feel for children at different ages. Explore activities to help them express big feelings and discover ways to build  empathy in every child. Remember, you don’t have […]

Risk and protective factors for childhood suicidality: A US population-based study

Background: Childhood suicidal ideation and behaviours are poorly understood. We examined correlates of suicidality in a US population-based sample of children participating in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. The ABCD study aims to examine trajectories of mental health from childhood to adulthood and collects information on multiple domains, including mental and physical wellbeing, […]

Risk of suicidal behaviors and antidepressant exposure among children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Objectives: Although several studies have reviewed the suicidal risk of antidepressants, the conclusions remain inconsistent. We, therefore, performed a meta-analysis of observational studies to address the association between exposure to antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the risk of suicide and suicide attempt in children and adolescents. Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were searched from January […]

Suicide prevention in childhood and adolescence: a narrative review of current knowledge on risk and protective factors and effectiveness of interventions

Introduction Suicide is a global mental health problem for people of all ages. While rates of suicide in children and adolescents are reported as lower than those in older populations worldwide, they represent the third leading cause of death in 15–19-year-olds. The rates are higher among boys than girls worldwide, though the death rates for […]

Prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in preadolescent children: A US population-based study

The present study evaluated sociodemographic and diagnostic predictors of suicidal ideation and attempts in a nationally representative sample of preadolescent youth enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Rates and predictors of psychiatric treatment utilization among suicidal youth also were examined. Eleven thousand eight hundred and seventy-five 9- and 10-year-old children residing in the […]

Global lifetime and 12-month prevalence of suicidal behavior, deliberate self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury in children and adolescents between 1989 and 2018: A meta-analysis

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the global lifetime and 12-month prevalence of suicidal behavior, deliberate self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury in children and adolescents. Methods: A systematic search for relevant articles published between 1989 to 2018 was performed in multiple electronic databases. The aggregate 12-month and lifetime prevalence of suicidal behavior, deliberate self-harm, and non-suicidal […]

Future directions in suicide and self-injury revisited: Integrating a developmental psychopathology perspective

The recent rise in suicide rates among children and adolescents has made suicide prevention in youth a major focus of government agencies and mental health organizations. In 2012, Nock presented future directions in the study of self-injurious thoughts and behavior (SITBs), highlighting the need to better examine which risk factors are associated with “each part […]

Self-harm in primary school-aged children: Prospective cohort study

Introduction No prospective studies have examined the prevalence, antecedents or concurrent characteristics associated with self-harm in non-treatment-seeking primary school-aged children. Methods In this cohort study from Melbourne, Australia we assessed 1239 children annually from age 8–9 years (wave 1) to 11–12 years (wave 4) on a range of health, social, educational and family measures. Past-year […]

Suicidality among Syrian refugee children in Jordan

History of adverse events in childhood is one of the strongest predictors of developing negative mental health outcomes with suicidality being the most devastating consequence. Syrian refugee children are at very high risk of developing mental illness, however, the prevalence and significance of suicidal thoughts among this population remains undocumented. A total of 339 Syrian […]

Evaluation of a new online program for children bereaved by suicide: The view of children, parents, and facilitators

Objective: Experiencing the suicide of a parent or a sibling is one of the most disruptive and stressful events in the life of a child or adolescent. Yet, little is known about the effectiveness of support offered to children and adolescents bereaved by suicide. This study aimed to evaluate participant and facilitator’s perceived helpfulness of the […]

Suicide attempt and death by suicide among parents of young individuals with cancer: A population-based study in Denmark and Sweden

Background The psychological toll on parents of a child receiving a cancer diagnosis is known to be high, but there is a knowledge gap regarding suicidal behavior among these parents. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of suicide attempt and death by suicide in relation to having a child with cancer. […]

Unveiling the silent crisis: Global burden of suicide‑related deaths among children aged 10–14 years

Background The rise in suicides among children aged 10–14 years demands urgent attention globally. This study aims to assess the global burden of suicide-related deaths in this age group from 1990 to 2019, considering factors such as sex, geography, and sociodemographics, to inform prevention strategies and interventions. Methods The data from Global Burden of Disease 2019, […]

The influence of childhood trauma and chronotype on suicide attempts in Chinese emerging adults with severe depressive symptoms

Background Studies have investigated how adults with severe depressive symptoms are more likely to attempt suicide, and these adults often have traumatic experiences and chaotic sleep/wake rhythms. Thus, this study using Latent class analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma class, chronotype, and suicide attempts among emerging adults with severe depressive symptoms. Methods […]

Support in bereavement processes in cases of suicide or substance-related death in childhood: A systematic review

Exposure to parental suicide or substance-related death can be a risk factor for unwanted developmental trajectories. The stigma and taboo that often follow a death subject to being morally sanctioned in society (‘special deaths’) pose an extra challenge for the surviving child and family. The support of informal and formal networks is an important factor […]

Emergency care follow-up for children and adolescents with suicide attempts or ideation

Because 10% to 15% of the people seen in hospital emergency departments for a suicide attempt will repeat the attempt within 12 months following their discharge, it is important to identify what interventions are effective for preventing further self-harm during this time.

Early risk factors for self-injurious thoughts and behaviours: A UK population-based study of 219,581 people

Mental disorders are a major problem among young people. To identify early risk factors of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours (SITB) among young adults with mental health problems, this case–control study drew data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), a primary care database covering 8% of the UK population. We explored the role of early […]

Investigating the relationship between domestic violence with substance abuse and suicide resilience in mothers with disabled children

Introduction: Mothers with disabled children are among the most critical groups exposed to domestic violence. Although domestic violence strongly affects these mothers’ physical and mental health, it subsequently affects their drug addiction and resilience to suicide. Based on this, it is crucial to investigate domestic violence, drug addiction, and resilience against suicide in mothers with disabled […]

Psychological disorders and suicide attempts in youths during the pre-COVID and post-COVID era in a Taiwan pediatric emergency department

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on pediatric patients, increasing their vulnerability to psychological fragility. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of pediatric psychological fragility and suicide attempts in the emergency department (ED) before and after the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: A total of 340 […]