Barbara Geller, MD reviewing Sheftall AH et al. Pediatrics 2016 Oct.

Children aged 5 to 11 years used adult-type methods of suicide (e.g., hanging) and were more likely to be black and male than older children who died by suicide.

Counterintuitively, even children as young as 3 years express suicidality (e.g., tying a belt around their neck and stating a death wish; J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2015; 11:926). But little is known about the characteristics of children aged 5 to 11 years who die by suicide. Here, investigators analyzed registry data from 17 states on children who died by suicide; 87 were aged 5 to 11, and 606 were aged 12 to 14.

Compared with children in the older group, those in the younger group were more likely to be black and male, to die by asphyxiation (e.g., hanging), and to not leave a note. Overall, 29% had told someone about their intent. Symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were more frequent than depressive symptoms in the younger group (59% vs. 29%); the reverse was seen in the older group (33% vs. 66%).

CITATION(S):

Sheftall AH et al. Suicide in elementary school-aged children and early adolescents. Pediatrics 2016 Oct; 138:e20160436. 

JWatch