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Citation |
Austin AE, van den Heuvel C, Byard RW. J. Forensic Sci. 2011; 56(6): 1528-1530. |
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Affiliation |
Discipline of Anatomy and Pathology, The University of Adelaide, Frome Rd, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Forensic Science SA, 21 Divett Place, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2011, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
21790596 |
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Abstract |
A retrospective review of hanging suicides in individuals aged ≤17 years was undertaken at Forensic Science South Australia, Australia, over two 5-year periods: 1995-1999 and 2005-2009. Seven cases of hanging suicides were identified from 1995 to 1999, with a further 14 cases from 2005 to 2009, an increase of 100% (p < 0.001). Hanging accounted for 33.3% of all suicides in this age group (7/21) from 1995 to 1999, compared with 93.3% of the total number of suicides (14/15) in the second 5-year period. In contrast, Australian national data from 1998 and 2008 showed a 30% decrease in hanging suicides in the young, from one case/100,000 population in 1998 to 0.7 in 2008. Cluster suicides occur in the young and are often initiated by direct communication. As it is possible that Internet-based social sites may facilitate this phenomenon, investigations should include an evaluation of the victim's Internet access given the potential risk of similar actions by peers. Language: en |