Suicide+Prevalance

Suicide accounts for only a small proportion (1.6%) of deaths of persons of all ages, however it accounts for a greater proportion of deaths from all causes in specific age groups - including adolescents.

For example, suicide deaths make up more than 20% of deaths from all causes, in each five year age group for males between 20 to 34 years. Similarly for females, suicide deaths comprise a much higher proportion of total deaths in younger age groups compared with older age groups (ABS 2005)



De Leo (2002) notes that adolescents are at higher risk of suicide because they live in a dualistic world where they are no longer children but not yet full adults. They can struggle to in the next stage of development - intimacy in the adult world. The most significant risk factors are low self-esteem, depression, and poor school performance.

Depressive symptoms such as boredom, fatigue, worry, irritability, loss of appetite, low mood, sleeping problems, self-harming and poor concentration are more common amongst young people. This complex mix of factors begs the question of cause and effect but can clearly be contributing factors to suicide.

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