Seasonal suicide trends in adolescents in the US: Did they explain the apparent effect of the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why?

Unveiling the silent crisis: global burden of suicide-related deaths among children aged 10-14 years

BACKGROUND

The rise in suicides among children aged 10-14 years demands urgent attention globally. This study aims to assess the global burden of suicide-related deaths in this age group from 1990 to 2019, considering factors such as sex, geography, and sociodemographics, to inform prevention strategies and interventions.

METHODS

The data from Global Burden of Disease 2019, encompassing 204 countries and territories, were analyzed to investigate deaths and years of life lost (YLLs) due to suicide among children aged 10-14 years. Statistical analyses, including mortality rates, YLLs, and the sociodemographic index (SDI), were conducted using standardized tools.

RESULTS

In 2019, a total of 8327 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) = 7073-9685] children aged 10-14 years died globally due to suicide, with a mortality rate of 1.30 (95% UI = 1.10-1.51) per 100,000. The rates varied across countries/territories ranging between 0.05 (95% UI = 0.02-0.10) in South Africa and 7.49 (95% UI = 5.13-10.57) in Greenland. The contribution of suicide-related deaths to all-cause mortality ranged from 0.07% (95% UI = 0.04%-0.15%) in South Africa to 33.02% (95% UI = 24.36%-41.53%) in Greenland. Worldwide, there were approximately 636,196 (95% UI = 540,383-740,009) YLLs due to suicide, with a rate of 99.07 (95% UI = 84.15-115.23) per 100,000. The association between SDI and suicide-related deaths was evident, with higher contributions observed in countries with higher SDI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals a concerning global burden of suicide-related deaths among children aged 10-14 years. Despite progress in reducing mortality rates, suicide remains a significant issue. While overall rates have declined, the percentage of deaths caused by suicide in this age group is increasing.

The characteristics of suicide attempters in Chinese patients: Comparison of adolescents, youths, middle-aged and elderly

BACKGROUND

Potential risk factors for suicide differ by age group. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the characteristics of patients with suicide attempts according to age group and any the relevant risk factors.

METHODS

This study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of attempted suicide patients who were admitted to the emergency departments (ED) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Demographic information and clinical characteristics were collected. The participants were divided into four age groups and the characteristics of each group were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 834 participants were included in this study. Suicide attempts were more prevalent in females, and the gender difference decreased with age. Having religious belief and less educated suicide attempts were concentrated in the elderly groups. Adolescents suicide attempts were more likely to occur in the spring, autumn and during non-office hours. Mental disorders were the major motivation for suicide among adolescents, and interpersonal and social problems were more prevalent among youths. Psychiatric medication was the leading suicidal substances among adolescents, while pesticides and herbicides were more prevalent in adults. The history of psychiatric diagnosis was more common in adolescents, while the history of somatic disorder was more prevalent in the elderly.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed differences in the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients in different age groups. Therefore, it is necessary to construct individualized intervention strategies for each age group based on the characteristics of the patients in order to reduce suicide.

Towards the Influence of Media on Suicidality: A Systematic Review of Netflix's 'Thirteen Reasons Why'

Online streaming series 'Thirteen Reasons Why' (13RW), released in March 2017, was criticized for its sensationalist portrayal of the main character's suicide, leading some people to voice fears of a global contagion of self-harm behaviors. The current investigation provides a systematic review of original studies analyzing the role of 13RW as an influencing factor for suicide. Articles were identified through a systematic search of Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and a manual search of reference lists from inception until the 16 January 2023. Twenty-seven published articles were identified from an initial search of 496 studies. The positive effects of watching 13RW included a reduction in suicide stigma and a greater likelihood to discuss mental health concerns and seek for help. However, several studies reported negative outcomes, including significant increases in the rate of deaths by suicide in adolescents, the number of admissions for suicidal reasons, and the prevalence and severity of suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors in vulnerable viewers. Still, due to methodological limitations, no causal relationship could be established. Preventive measures are required to alert of the risk and should be particularly addressed to susceptible subjects. Psychoeducational programs should be focused on this kind of phenomena in vulnerable populations.