Suicide in Prepubescent Children in the United States: A Descriptive Analysis of Major Characteristics and Risk Factors
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 10-24 in the United States. Nearly 5,000 youth commit suicide annually. Risk factors for suicidal prepubescent may be different from adolescents and adults. This study will compare the characteristics and risk factors of suicide in prepubescent children (younger than 12 years) with early-adolescent (ages 12–14) and late-adolescent (ages 15-18).
METHODS:
Analysis of 2004 -2012 child death review data from 29 states from the National Child Death Review Case Reporting System. Prepubescent suicides (n=97) were compared with early-adolescent suicides (n=572) and late-adolescent suicides (n=2092).
RESULTS:
Primary caregivers of prepubescent suicides had higher percentages of history of substance abuse (11% compared to 6% for early-adolescent and 7% for late-adolescent), history of maltreatment as perpetrator (16% compared to 10% for early-adolescent and 8% for late-adolescent), and Social Services in the past 12 months (14% compared to 6% for early-adolescent and 5% for late-adolescent). Eighty percent of prepubescent suicides took their life by asphyxia (hanging) versus 58% for early-adolescent and 47% for late-adolescent. Arguments with parents before death were more pervasive with prepubescent (36%) compared to early-adolescent (30%) and late-adolescent (17%). Percentages of youth with prior disability (including mental disorders) or chronic illness were similar: 24% for prepubescent, 22% for early-adolescent and 22% for late-adolescent. Twenty-seven percent of prepubescent were African American (compared to 12% for early-adolescent and 9% for late-adolescent).
CONCLUSIONS:
The risk factors of prepubescent children who commit suicide may be different from other age groups. Family economic stressors as well as family psychopathology are important influencers in prepubescent suicide completers. Increased understanding of these risk factors will lead to better screening tools and prevention initiatives that more effectively target this population.