Citation

Malone KM, Quinlivani L, McGuinness S, McNicholas F, Kelleher C. Ir. Med. J. 2012; 105(7): 231-233.

Affiliation

School of Medicine & Medical Science, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Winstone Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23008881

Abstract

Suicide rates have increased in Ireland's youth over the past two decades. However, no research report has focussed on suicide rates in those aged under 18--the children of Ireland. We retrieved national disaggregated age and sex-specific suicide mortality data from 1993-1998 and compared it with similar suicide mortality data from 2003-2008. Significant age (older vs younger) and sex effects (boys greater risk than girls) are apparent in both decades Suicide rates in both males and females have increased (males: 9.3-13.5/100,000), (females: 2.4-5.1/100,000. Suicide rates in under 15 year olds boys and girls is extremely rare for both time periods studied (1.6/100,000). Results are discussed in light of the rights of children and the obligation of the nation in this regard, as well as more child-specific and transition to adulthood-specific suicide prevention policy implications.

Language: en