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by

Dr. LAKSHMI VIJAYAKUMAR

M.B.B.S., D.P.M., Ph.D., FRCP (E ) FRCP sych. (Hon.)

​

Founder, SNEHA

Member, W.H.O. International Network for Suicide Research

Hon . Associate Professor, University of Melbourne

Member, International Academy of suicide research

​

​

SUICIDE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

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Suicides below 18 years (52 countries)

ECM 2024 Bertuccia et all

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Global Burden Of Suicide Among Children Aged 10-14 Years

WJP 2024

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Suicide rates (crude) for India among adolescents (14-17 years) by sex and less or more developed state groups: 2014-2019

Arya et al Cambridge Prisms 2025

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Do Children Have A Concept Of Death?

  • Research has indicated that, from the age of eight, children understand the concept of suicide (Mishara 1998).
  • In their sample in Canada
    • None of six year olds
    • 1/3 of seven year olds knew
    • 87% of eight year olds
    • 81% of nine year olds
    • 100% of children aged ten or older

knew about suicide or killing oneself

​

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Global Prevalence of Sexual Violence Against Children

Life time sexual harassment – 11.4%

Any contact sexual violence – 8.7 %

Completed forced sexual intercourse – 6.1%

Girls – 6.8 %, Boys – 3.3%

Preceding 1 year – 1.3 %

(Piolanski et al

Jama paediatrics

March 2025 )

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Childhood Maltreatment and Suicidal Attempts Meta Analysis

Young People – 3,37185

​

OR

Sexual Abuse – 3.41

Physical Abuse – 2.18

Emotional Abuse – 2.2

Emotional Neglect – 1.91

Physical Neglect – 1.7

Combined Abuse – 3.3 (Angelikas et al

Jama network 2020)

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CSA & Long Term Outcome

Hailes et al

Lancet Psychiatry 2019

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Cyber Bullying

  • Online bullying - 1/3 of children
  • Every 30 mts a child attempts suicide due to bullying

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Screen time and SB ABCD study, 9 to 11 years

Chu et all 2023

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Addictive Use Of Internet

Xiao JAMA 2025

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SUICIDE of SSR

WEEK 1 WEEK 2

SUICIDE

RR 11.53 3.11

HOW TO

10.15 6.50

​

World psychiatry2021

RESULTS

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Factors Associated With Suicidal Behaviours In Teenagers

Individual

Family Related

School & Peer Related

  • Psychiatric disorders (including affective disorders, disruptive/conduct disorders, alcohol and drug abuse)
  • Genetic vulnerability
  • Biological changes, brain development during the puberty
  • Sexual orientation
  • Adverse events e.g. physical or sexual abuse, loss through death or separation
  • Preoccupation with death
  • Previous self-harm or suicidal behaviours
  • Parental divorce, poor family cohesion
  • Poor parent-child communication
  • Parent-child conflicts
  • Family history of mental health problems
  • Family history of suicidal behavior
  • Presence of a step-parent
  • Frequent changes in living and educational arrangements
  • Peer problems (bullying, negative peer pressure, conflicts)
  • Isolation
  • Suicidal behaviours among peers
  • Perceived or real poor academic performance
  • Dropping out from school

Environmental factors

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Number of Pupils in Secondary Education Worldwide (in Millions)

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Suicide Prevention Programs and Outcomes

Posamentier et al TRAUMA, VIOLENCE, & ABUSE

2023

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​

Chennai

Tamil Nadu

Year

Male

Female

Total

Male

Female

Total

2004

20

18

38

245

162

407

2005

30

24

54

159

155

314

2006

15

25

40

99

127

226

2007

32

23

55

115

134

249

2008

18

44

62

140

264

404

2009

12

34

46

107

223

330

2010

14

9

23

116

124

240

2011

24

16

40

118

105

223

2012

2

1

3

114

124

238

2013

20

12

32

162

115

277

2014

7

8

15

134

113

247

2015

4

3

7

177

145

322

2016

8

6

14

142

116

258

2017

24

26

50

97

81

178

2018

4

7

11

102

107

209

2019

20

15

35

115

100

215

2020

5

2

7

49

34

83

2021

4

2

6

61

41

102

2022

4

3

7

49

72

121

Exam Failure and Suicide

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Interventions for self-harm in children and adolescents (Review)

Witt K Cochrane review 2021

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DIGITAL

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45countries (9 H, 31M,4L) 179771 Adolescents

(j Aff D2019)

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Fruits & Vegetables and SI ( KHS)

Hwang et al 2021

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Insufficient sleep and SI (YRBSS)

Baiden et al 2019

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Online �Suicide Prevention

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Beyond social media

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Reducing the accessibility of information on suicide methods

​

Increase online vigilance

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Encourage online safety

​

Improving online safety

© National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Illness. All rights reserved.

Not to be reproduced in whole or part without the permission of the copyright holder.

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Renaud and L, Vijayakumar 2020