UK - Youth suicide is a major global public health issue and consistently ranks as one of the leading cause of death for adolescents aged 15 -19. Suicide accounts for 30% of deaths in the 15-24 year age group. Studies have shown that many young people that die by suicide or who make a serious attempt have a recognisable psychiatric disorder such as depression, anxiety, conduct disorder and substance abuse at the time of their attempt.

Youth suicide prevention, is a joint initiative between the Health Development Agency, the Institute of Public Health in Ireland and Programme for Action in Ireland. It aims to identify all systematic reviews in this field and to analyse and combine the evidence to highlight what measures work to prevent youth suicide.

Professor Mike Kelly, Director of Evidence and Guidance, HDA said:

'Suicide and suicidal behaviour in young people is a significant public health issue. While suicide rates are higher in young adults, many of the risk factors and associated behaviour patterns are established in adolescence. This makes the development of evidence-based suicide prevention strategies a priority for our society. To achieve this, we need the involvement of many agencies outside the health services.'

'We recommend systematic evaluation of the existing approaches that appear to work. We need new research to be undertaken with large youth samples to find out reliably what factors will lead to a reduction in suicide in our young people.'

A statistical link between unemployment and suicide exists, especially in young men and rates of suicidal behaviour are higher among manual occupation groups. Social policy measures need to prevent suicide by addressing the broader socioeconomic and environmental determinates of health, while specific communities may benefit from targeted interventions.

The briefing has identified the following key risk factors that need attention when developing future youth suicide prevention programmes:

-- a previous history of suicide attempt,

-- a history of depression,

-- substance misuse,

-- poor family circumstances,

-- certain personality traits such as poor problem-solving ability, impulsiveness and aggression

-- The availability and means to commit suicide (such as access to means for hanging or access to psychotropic or analgesic drugs (i.e. paracetemol) Hanging and self poisoning are the main methods of youth suicide in England.

Key recommendations include:

-- Targeted interventions for youth suicide among ethnic minorities, those with disabilities and other minority youth groups need to be developed and evaluated.

-- The impact of reducing access to the means of suicide and the role of media should be further researched.

-- The effects of limiting quantities of over the counter and prescribed medicines sold should be quantified, e.g. paracetamol and aspirin.

-- A need for studies on young people who have deliberately harmed themselves who are not admitted to hospital.

-- A review of the effectiveness of various treatments for different mental illnesses and psychiatric conditions among young people.

-- Interventions to improve youth mental health with a focus on suicide as an outcome should be reviewed and if there is a lack of evidence then initiatives should be developed and evaluated.

-- Future research on risk factors and suicide prevention interventions should involve young people, recognise diversity and take into account the needs of specific groups, e.g. gay and lesbian young people, young people who misuse substances, young people from ethnic minorities.

Suicide is a health inequalities issue. Among men aged 20 -64 in England, suicide rates in the lowest social class(V) are twice as high as in social class IV and almost four times as high as in social class I (professional :banker, lawyer, doctor, accountant) These rates apply to both men and women in Northern Ireland.

Notes to Editors

1 The Health Development Agency hda.nhs is the national authority on what works to improve people's health and to reduce health inequalities. We work in partnership across sectors to support informed decision making at all levels and the development of effective practice.

For further information: Please contact James Thomson or Dr Tonya Gillis, HDA Press Office on 020 7061 3108/3117