Suicide and delinquent adolescents

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511543913.009

8 - Suicide and delinquent adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 August 2009

Amer Smajkic and

David C. Clark

Edited by

Carol L. Kessler and

Louis James Kraus

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Amer Smajkic: Affiliation:
Rush University Medical Center Marshall Field IV Building 1720 West Polk Street Chicago, IL 60612 USA
David C. Clark: Affiliation:
Rush University Medical Center Armour Academic Center 600 Paulina Suite 529 Chicago, IL 60612 USA
Carol L. Kessler: Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York
Louis James Kraus: Affiliation:
Rush University, Chicago

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Summary

Introduction

According to the Surgeon General of the United States, youth suicide is a national tragedy and a major public health problem (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). From 1950–2001, the suicide rate for young people (ages 15–24) tripled from 2.7 per 100 000 to 9.9 per 100 000 (Arias et al., 2003). In 2002 the rates were unchanged at 9.9 per 100 000 (Kochanek et al., 2002). The 2001 rate translated to 13 435 deaths of adolescents ages 15–19 years.

From 1952–1994, the incidence of suicide among adolescents approximately tripled, although there has been a general decline in youth suicides since 1994. In 1950 the death rate for adolescent suicide was 2.7 per 100 000, in 1990 it was 11.1 per 100 000, with a decline to 7.4 per 100 000 in 2002. From 1950–1990 the suicide rate among adolescents increased by 411 percent. From 1990–2002 the suicide rate for 15- to 19-year-olds decreased by 33%. See Fig. 8.1.

Over the same period (1950 to present), unintentional injury has remained the leading cause of death for adolescents. In 2001 unintentional injury accounted for approximately 48 percent of all deaths among adolescents ages 15–19 years. Homicide and suicide have consistently ranked as the second and third leading causes of death, accounting for 14 and 12 percent, respectively, of all deaths among 15 to 19-year-olds (National Center for Health Prevention and Injury Control, 2001).

Keywords

delinquent adolescents jails juvenile institutions Lindsay Hayes' survey psychiatric risk factors suicide mental health services prisons

Type: Chapter
Information: The Mental Health Needs of Young Offenders
Forging Paths toward Reintegration and Rehabilitation
, pp. 180 - 197

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543913.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2007

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8 - Suicide and delinquent adolescents

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