Suicide Among Adolescents and Young Adults: a Cross-National Comparison of 34 Countries

Few cross-national reports have examined suicide rates among adolescents & young adults. A survey of suicides among 15-24-year-olds in 34 of the wealthiest nations demonstrated that 15,555 youths killed themselves in a 1-year study period. 34% of these suicides were firearm related. Finland led the participating nations in total & firearm-related suicide rates. An association was found between divorce rates & youth suicide rates, firearm-related suicide among youths, & suicide rates among young males. For a smaller sample of countires, an association was found between firearm availability & firearm-related suicide rates among youth & suicide rates among young males. (56 refs.)