Suicide in Young People Aged 15-24: a Psychological Autopsy Study

27 subjects whose deaths received a verdict of suicide or undetermined cause were studied. Information was collected from informant interviews, coroners’ inquest notes, medical records, & psychiatric case notes. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 19 subjects, most commonly depressive disorders. Very few subjects were receiving treatment for their disorders. Suicides were often the end-point of long-term difficulties extending back to childhood or early adolescence. Relationship & legal difficulties were also identified as relatively common contributory factors to the suicides. (35 refs.)