An Epidemiologic Study of Adolescent Suicide^*

Abstract

This study investigated suicides by persons aged ten to nineteen during the years 1978 to 1982 in the City of Montreal. Records of death in the Office of the Coroner, City of Montreal, were examined and suicides designated according to standard criteria. Age, sex, method of suicide, and month of death were noted. Mean incidence of suicide for the entire sample was 5.92 per 100,000 population. The mean figure for males was 9.52 and for females 2.32, with the incidence greater among males in each of the five years. Incidence of suicide in the fifteen to nineteen year old group was approximately ten times that in the ten to fourteen year old group, a difference which was constant across sex and across the five year period. Among boys, hanging was the most frequent method of suicide, with firearms second, and jumping from a height or in front of a vehicle third. Among girls, drug intoxication was most common, with firearms and jumping ranking second and third respectively. No monthly periodicity was found. The epidemiology of adolescent suicide in Montreal appears to be similar to that reported in other locations.

Suicide in Children and Adolescents

“…Although strictly speaking hanging was the most common method of suicide in studies from Manitoba (39%) and Montreal (26%), it barely surpasses firearms (38% and 24%, respectively) in those reports. 5,6 In a second earlier study from Manitoba, firearms were more common than hanging. 7 In the Montreal study, 4 methods (hanging, poisoning, firearm, and jump from a height) were almost equal in number.…”

“…7 In the Montreal study, 4 methods (hanging, poisoning, firearm, and jump from a height) were almost equal in number. 6 In the Newfoundland and Labrador study, the most common method was firearms (54%), followed by hanging (33%). 4 Statistical analysis failed to demonstrate a significant difference in the use of hanging between the current study and the 4 Canadian studies.…”

Child and Adolescent Suicide Deaths in New Mexico, 1990-1994

“…Based on a review of the literature we hypothesized that: 1. Suicide death rates among male adolescents would be higher than among females [Brent et al, 1988;Cheiftez et al, 1987;Hoberman & Garfinkel, 1988;Kahn, 1987;Sigurdson et al, 1994;Thompson, 1987]; 2. American Indians/Alaska Natives would have higher suicide death rates than other ethnic groups in our state [Howard-Pitney et al, 1992;Kettl & Bixler, 1991;May & Van Winkle, 1986]; 3.…”

“…Based on a review of the literature we hypothesized that: Suicide death rates among male adolescents would be higher than among females [Brent et al, 1988; Cheiftez et al, 1987; Hoberman & Garfinkel, 1988; Kahn, 1987; Sigurdson et al, 1994; Thompson, 1987];American Indians/Alaska Natives would have higher suicide death rates than other ethnic groups in our state [Howard-Pitney et al, 1992; Kettl & Bixler, 1991; May & Van Winkle, 1986];A majority of suicide deaths would involve handguns [Boyd & Moscicki, 1986; Brent et al, 1993a; Kahn, 1994; Monk, 1987; Ohberg et al, 1996];Substance use would be a factor in a large proportion of suicide deaths [DeSimone et al, 1994; Duberstein et al, 1993; King et al, 1993; Marttunen et al, 1994; McKay et al, 1991];Rates of substance use would be higher in adolescents who died by firearms than in those who died by other methods [Baker et al, 1992; Brent, 1993a]. …”

12 Suicide in Canada with Special Reference to the Difference Between Canada and the United States

“…Drug overdoses were declining in females and hanging, strangulation and suffocation increasing in males. In Quebec, Cheifetz, Posener, LaHaye et al (1987) found that hanging, firearms, and jumping were the most common methods among boys aged 10-19; and drug intoxications, firearms, and jumping among girls. Between 1954 and 1980,207 persons committed suicide and 223 unsuccessfully attempted to kill themselves under Toronto's subway trains (Johnston & Waddell, 1984).…”