Study: 40% of teens try to commit suicide
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Thoughts on suicide and suicidal behavior can begin at a younger age than previously thought. While approximately one in nine children commits suicide before graduation from high school, a new study reveals that a significant proportion of children make their first attempt at suicide in primary or secondary school.
A study published in the journal Adolescent Health showed that almost 40% of children tried to commit suicide, and the first attempt was made in primary school.
Scientists also found that attempts at suicide in childhood and adolescence were associated with a high level of depression at the time of this attempt.
This study suggests that the implementation of mental health programs for children and adolescents needs to start already in primary and secondary schools.
Adolescence is the beginning of psychological struggle with oneself, the first experience of using drugs, alcohol, sexual relations and self-identification of sexual orientation. At the same time, children become more vulnerable and prone to depressive disorders.
"This is the time when children are preparing to be more independent of their parents or guardians, but they do not have enough experience how to do it," says study author James Mazza, a psychology teacher at the University of Washington, USA. "And in the event of crisis situations, the support of peer friends who also do not have sufficient life experience turns out to be ineffective."
As part of the current study, Mazza and her colleagues asked 883 teenagers aged 18-19 to report on their suicide attempts. 78 respondents (almost 9%) said that they tried to commit suicide at some point in their lives.
Cases of suicide attempts dramatically increase at the age of 12 years (the period of the sixth grade), with a peak in the eighth or ninth grade. 39 respondents who indicated numerous attempts at suicide said that their first attempt was much earlier - at the age of 9 years - than those who committed one suicide attempt.
Mazza compared the memories of adolescents about their suicide attempts with past episodes of depression.
In adolescents who reported their suicide attempts, depression was more common than their peers who did not attempt suicide.
"This study suggests that children are able to tell us about their own depression, We can count on self-reports to help identify young people who are prone to suicide because of current mental problems." - considers Mazza.