title: Suicide in children over two decades: 1993-2008.
abstract: Suicide rates have increased in Ireland's youth over the past two decades. However, no research report has focussed on suicide rates in those aged under 18--the children of Ireland. We retrieved national disaggregated age and sex-specific suicide mortality data from 1993-1998 and compared it with similar suicide mortality data from 2003-2008. Significant age (older vs younger) and sex effects (boys greater risk than girls) are apparent in both decades Suicide rates in both males and females have increased (males: 9.3-13.5/100,000), (females: 2.4-5.1/100,000. Suicide rates in under 15 year olds boys and girls is extremely rare for both time periods studied (1.6/100,000). Results are discussed in light of the rights of children and the obligation of the nation in this regard, as well as more child-specific and transition to adulthood-specific suicide prevention policy implications.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine & Medical Science, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quinlivani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGuinness
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McNicholas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kelleher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*