Suicide Among Children and Younger and Older Adolescents in Norway: a Comparative Study

Information about all registered suicides of young people in Norway from 1990-1992 was gathered from several professional informants. Children younger than 15 years were compared with late-adolescent (15-19 years) suicides & controls. Results indicate that children & young adolescents who died by suicide were less exposed to known risk factors than older adolescents. The increased suicide risk was similar for both groups compared with community controls. The lower incidence of childhood suicide may be related to fewer risk factors rather than to resilience to risk factors. (26 refs.)