Trends of Attempted Suicide in Albanian Children's and Adolescents

Abstract

SummaryBackground. Attempted suicides and suicides are becoming pertinent social phenomena in Albania, with increasing trend in the last years, exceeding the road traffic accident numbers. Our objective was to examine suicide attempts trends among Albanian children and adolescents. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of standardized suicide attempts rates in Statistic Department at University Hospital Center "Mother Theresa"; epidemiology data for the period spanning from 2006 to 2012. We analyzed the data by age, sex and by suicide attempts method over time for two age groups: 10-14 year old (children) and 15-19 year old (adolescents). Results. We found an average annual increase of the suicide attempts rate for children and adolescents (p<0.001), but stratification by age and sex showed significant variation. By comparing the two age groups it came out that the suicidal phenomena is more present at adolescence age (p<0.001). According to the statistic data and by analyzing the cases on yearly bases it resulted that female gender is more attempt to commit suicide that male gender, with a significant statistical variation of (p<0.001). From the study it was noted that the suicidal attempt methods, in the most of cases, were drug overdose (97.6%) and 2.4% hang themselves (suffocation) or cut their vein. Conclusions. The increasing cases of suicidal tendency among children and adolescents necessitate further studies to identify the causes and risk factors, and to develop suitable preventive programs.

Youth self-harm in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review of the risk and protective factors

“…In total, six school- and community-based (Aktepe, Çalişkan, & Sönmez, 2014; Kharsati & Bhola, 2015; Somer et al, 2015; Tang et al, 2011; Wan et al, 2011; Zoroglu et al, 2003) and nine hospital/clinic-based studies reported on the forms of self-harm (Akdemir, Zeki, Ünal, Kara, & Çetin, 2013; Akin & Berkem, 2012; Çelik et al, 2011; Fidan, Ceyhun, & Kirpinar, 2009; Fidan & Kirpinar, 2009; Gökçen & Köylü, 2011; Grover, Sarkar, Chakrabarti, Malhotra, & Avasthi, 2015; Kola, Kola, Petrela, & Zaimi, 2013; Soylu, Taneli, & Taneli, 2013; Syed & Khan, 2008). Banging and hitting were the most common form of self-harm in the community-based studies, followed by cutting, scratching and wound picking (Aktepe et al, 2014; Kharsati & Bhola, 2015; Somer et al, 2015; Tang et al, 2011; Wan et al, 2011; Zoroglu et al, 2003).…”

“…Burning and use of chemicals were the least common forms of self-harm (Wan et al, 2011; Zoroglu et al, 2003). In the hospital-based studies, self-poisoning was the commonest method (Akin & Berkem, 2012; Çelik et al, 2011; Fidan et al, 2009; Fidan & Kirpinar, 2009; Gökçen & Köylü, 2011; Grover et al, 2015; Kola et al, 2013; Soylu et al, 2013; Syed & Khan, 2008). Pesticides were a common choice of poisoning (Grover et al, 2015; Kola et al, 2013; Syed & Khan, 2008; Tables 3 and 4).…”

Fatal aluminum phosphide poisonings in Tirana (Albania), 2009 – 2013

“…However, recent publications have raised concerns regarding a constant increasing trend of suicide rates in Albania, with self-poisoning being a method of choice [ 4 ]. The same seems to be valid for attempted suicides, with more than 97% of adolescents trying to self-poison themselves with pharmaceuticals [ 5 ].…”

Suicide attempts among children and adolescents

“…The suicide attempts are actions with suicidal aim, not resulting in death [14]. In our study we've analyzed suicide attempts among inpatients at the Clinic of Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth in Belgrade.…”

“…Drug overdose was found to be the most common mode for suicide attempt (66.2%), followed by wrist cutting (11.5%), and hanging (10.8%). In the other studies, drug poisoning is also reported as the most common method of suicide attempt [14,15]. Possibly, one of the reason is that drugs can be easily procured and available in home inventories.…”