A national investigation of suicide in children and young people

Abstract

The University of Manchester Cathryn Amy Joanna Rodway Doctor of Philosophy A national investigation of suicide in children and young people 2023 This thesis combines five published research papers examining suicide in children and young people. These publications relate findings from the first UK investigation of a complete national sample of individual suicides by young people, the largest UK population-based study of its kind. National mortality data identified a three-year national consecutive case series of deaths by suicide in young people aged 10 to 19 years between 2014 and 2016 (almost 600 deaths). Information on the antecedents of suicide was sought from a combination of official investigations, primarily coroner inquest hearings, and other sources where available. The study sought to understand the adversities young people face before they take their lives. The first paper describes one-year findings from the pilot phase, a sample of 145 people aged under 20 who died by suicide in England between January 2014 and April 2015. Multiple stressors and experiences occurred before death that may have contributed to their suicide risk, including academic pressures, bullying, bereavement, physical health conditions, abuse or neglect, and self-harm. The second paper details full findings for all UK nations over a three-year period (January 2014 to December 2016); 595 suicides by young people. Detailed information was obtained for 544 (91%). The paper examines gender differences in adversities before death and records contacts with services. It also examines groups who could benefit from a particular approach to suicide prevention – ‘looked after children’, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people, and young people who have been bereaved (including by suicide). The third paper examines a small group of young people who die by suicide without explicit warning signs (“out of the blue” deaths) who require a different understanding of what puts them at risk of suicide and a different approach to prevention. The fourth paper focusses on young people who died by suicide who had been previously or recently bereaved (including by suicide). It describes features of these suicides, including the relationship to the deceased, timing, and other stresses in these young peoples’ lives. The findings highlighted in the paper suggest the experience of bereavement, particularly by suicide, may be a specific risk factor for suicidal behaviour in young people. The fifth and final paper describes detailed findings about online experiences that may have influenced suicide by young people, including searching for information about method, visiting websites that may encourage suicide, posting suicidal ideas online, and online bullying. Findings showed suicide-related online experience is a common, but likely underestimated, antecedent to suicide in young people.

Date of Award	31 Dec 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Pauline Turnbull (Supervisor)