Suicide in young people

This manuscript aimed at reviewing the literature on suicide in young people and to present the most recent findings regarding several important issues such as: the prevalence of suicidal behaviour in young people in Flanders and the Netherlands; the causes and risk factors of suicidality in this young age group; and the most effective prevention strategies. Recent epidemiological studies indicate that rates of fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviour are high in Flemish young people in comparison with international figures and especially in comparison with Dutch youngsters. Research findings suggest that this increased risk for suicidality in Flemish youngsters can be associated with less adaptive coping-responses such as less communication, more use of alcohol and drugs, less problem-oriented coping and more anxiety. Socio-cultural differences in coping behaviour can therefore be associated with differences in risk of suicidal behaviour. An amplitude of studies regarding the causes and risk factors of suicidal behaviour in young people have led to a growing understanding of the pathways leading to suicidal behaviour. This knowledge makes it possible to describe a heuristic explanatory model of suicidal behaviour in which this behaviour can be viewed as the consequence of an interaction between trait- and state-dependent characteristics. The trait-dependent vulnerability includes a persistent predisposition or diathesis to suicidal behaviour and can be described in terms of biological and psychological characteristics. State-dependent factors include stressor-induced characteristics such as psychiatric and social variables. With regard to the prevention of suicidal behaviour in adolescents the abovementioned findings regarding the causes and risk factors, indicate that, at the individual level, prevention of suicide should include psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic strategies in the treatment of the associated psychiatric disorders and underlying vulnerability. At a more general population level, prevention is often directed or implemented at the school. Research regarding school-based prevention strategies have clearly shown that broad prevention programmes are needed, which focus not only on the youngsters themselves but also on the school personnel and in addition not only focus on suicide but more broadly on mental health and problem-solving/communication skills.