Suicidal ideation and mental health disorders in young school children across Europe.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of suicidal ideation and thoughts of death in elementary school children in a European survey and to determine the associated socio-demographic and clinical factors.


METHODS
Data refer to children aged 6-12 (N=7062) from Italy, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Germany, and the Netherlands randomly selected in primary schools. Suicidal thoughts and death ideation were measured using a computerized pictorial diagnostic tool from the Dominic Interactive (DI) completed by the children. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was administrated to teachers and parents along with a socio-demographic questionnaire.


RESULTS
Suicidal ideation was present in 16.96% of the sample (from 9.9 in Italy to 26.84 in Germany), death thoughts by 21.93% (from 7.71% in Italy to 32.78 in Germany). SI and DT were more frequent in single-parent families and large families. Externalizing disorders were strongly correlated with SI and DT after controlling for other factors and this was true for internalizing disorders only when reported by the children.


CONCLUSIONS
Recognizing suicidal ideation in young children may be recommended as part of preventive strategies such as screening in the context of the presence of any mental health problems whether externalizing or internalizing.
EHESP Rennes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, EA 4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France. Electronic address: viviane.kovess-masfety@ext.parisdescartes.fr.
Viviane
V
Kovess-Masfety
Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA.
Daniel J
DJ
Pilowsky
Institute of Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau (Campus Koblenz), Koblenz, Germany.
Dietmar
D
Goelitz
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Rowella
R
Kuijpers
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Roy
R
Otten
EHESP Rennes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, EA 4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
Maria Francesca
MF
Moro
The Romanian League for Mental Health, Bucharest, Romania.
Adina
A
Bitfoi
Yeniden Health and Education Society, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ceren
C
Koç
Clinic of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Vilnius, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Sigita
S
Lesinskiene
New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Zlatka
Z
Mihova
EHESP Rennes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, EA 4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
Greg
G
Hanson
EHESP Rennes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, EA 4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
Christophe
C
Fermanian
EHESP Rennes, Sorbonne Paris Cite, EA 4057 Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
Ondine
O
Pez
Centro di Psichiatria di Consulenza e Psicosomatica Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Mauro Giovanni
MG
Carta
D002648:Child; D005006:Ethnicity; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
ADHD; Children; Mental health; Suicidal ideation; Suicide