| Summary: | Abstract Finnish youth suicide mortality is exceptionally high in international comparisons. This study investigated the epidemiology of child and adolescent (< 18 years) suicides in Finland, with a special focus on gender differences. Two data sets were employed. Data from the national Finnish Cause of Death Register was used to examine trends in the rates and methods of child and adolescent suicides in Finland in 1969–2012. The characteristics of 58 child and adolescent suicides, which occurred in the province of Oulu in Northern Finland between 1988 and 2012, were explored based on individual-level data extracted from documents pertaining to establishment of the cause of death in medicolegal autopsy investigations. The primary source of data was death certificates. Other sources included documents such as police investigation reports and the results of toxicological investigations. In addition, the suicide data was linked with the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. After 1990, suicide rates generally decreased for males, but increased for females. Among females, hanging exceeded poisoning as the most common suicide method after 1990, whereas firearms were the most common method among males, until traffic suicides took the leading position for both genders during 2008–2012. Violent suicide methods of all types increased among females after 1990. Male firearm suicide rates were nearly three times higher in Northern Finland than in Southern Finland, while there was no regional difference in rates of suicide by other methods. 15% of male and 17% of female suicide victims in the province of Oulu had a history of previous psychiatric hospitalization. The discharge diagnoses were heterogeneous. Previous suicidality and self-cutting were more common among females than males. Half of all adolescents were under the influence of alcohol at the time of their death. The majority of the intoxicated adolescents committed suicide at night, during descending blood alcohol concentrations. A notable fall peak was observed ...
|
|---|