Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research Article

Suicidal deaths in elementary school students in Korea

Authors: Minha Hong, Han Nah Cho, Ah Reum Kim, Hyun Ju Hong, Yong-Sil Kweon

Published in: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of childhood suicidal deaths among elementary school students that occurred from 2011 to 2015 in Korea.

Methods

The report form of each suicide case by the teacher in charge to the Education Ministry was reviewed retrospectively.

Results

There were 19 suicidal deaths (12 boys, 7 girls) in elementary school students. The youngest case was a third grader (n = 1). Jumping from heights (n = 12) was the most frequently used method. Most suicides (n = 12) were committed in their homes.

Conclusion

These results highlight the alarming trend of early suicidal deaths and the importance of early suicide prevention strategies, especially in schools.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Organization WH. Preventing suicide: a global imperative. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014.
2.
Freuchen A, Groholt B. Characteristics of suicide notes of children and young adolescents: an examination of the notes from suicide victims 15 years and younger. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2015;20(2):194–206.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Dervic K, Brent DA, Oquendo MA. Completed suicide in childhood. Psychiatric Clin N Am. 2008;31(2):271–91.CrossRef
4.
Pfeffer CR, Conte HR, Plutchik R, Jerrett I. Suicidal behavior in latency-age children: an empirical study. J Am Acad Child Psychiatry. 1979;18(4):679–92.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Brent DA, Baugher M, Bridge J, Chen T, Chiappetta L. Age- and sex-related risk factors for adolescent suicide. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1999;38(12):1497–505.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Pfeffer CR. Childhood suicidal behavior. A developmental perspective. Psychiatric Clin N Am. 1997;20(3):551–62.CrossRef
7.
Tishler CL, Reiss NS, Rhodes AR. Suicidal behavior in children younger than twelve: a diagnostic challenge for emergency department personnel. Acad Emerg Med Off J Soc Acad Emerg Med. 2007;14(9):810–8.CrossRef
8.
9.
Laido Z, Voracek M, Till B, Pietschnig J, Eisenwort B, Dervic K, Sonneck G, Niederkrotenthaler T. Epidemiology of suicide among children and adolescents in Austria, 2001–2014. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2017;129(3–4):121–8.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Beautrais AL. Child and young adolescent suicide in New Zealand. Aust NZ J psychiatry. 2001;35(5):647–53.CrossRef
11.
Loh C, Tai BC, Ng WY, Chia A, Chia BH. Suicide in young Singaporeans aged 10–24 years between 2000 to 2004. Arch Suicide Res Off J Int Acad Suicide Res. 2012;16(2):174–82.CrossRef
12.
Soole R, Kolves K, De Leo D. Suicide in children: a systematic review. Arch Suicide Res Off J Int Acad Suicide Res. 2015;19(3):285–304.CrossRef
13.
Groholt B, Ekeberg O, Wichstrom L, Haldorsen T. Suicide among children and younger and older adolescents in Norway: a comparative study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1998;37(5):473–81.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Pompili M, Vichi M, De Leo D, Pfeffer C, Girardi P. A longitudinal epidemiological comparison of suicide and other causes of death in Italian children and adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012;21(2):111–21.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Freuchen A, Kjelsberg E, Lundervold AJ, Groholt B. Differences between children and adolescents who commit suicide and their peers: a psychological autopsy of suicide victims compared to accident victims and a community sample. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Mental Health. 2012;6:1.CrossRef
16.
Shaffer D, Gould MS, Fisher P, Trautman P, Moreau D, Kleinman M, Flory M. Psychiatric diagnosis in child and adolescent suicide. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1996;53(4):339–48.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Groholt B, Ekeberg O. Suicide in young people under 15 years: problems of classification. Nord J Psychiatry. 2003;57(6):411–7.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Whalen DJ, Dixon-Gordon K, Belden AC, Barch D, Luby JL. Correlates and consequences of suicidal cognitions and behaviors in children ages 3 to 7 years. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015;54(11):926–37.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
19.
Mishara BL. Conceptions of death and suicide in children ages 6-12 and their implications for suicide prevention. Suicide Lifethreat Behav. 1999;29(2):105–18.
20.
Normand CL, Mishara BL. The development of the concept of suicide in children. OMEGA J Death Dying. 1992;25(3):183–203.CrossRef
21.
Dervic K, Friedrich E, Oquendo MA, Voracek M, Friedrich MH, Sonneck G. Suicide in Austrian children and young adolescents aged 14 and younger. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006;15(7):427–34.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Fischer EP, Comstock GW, Monk MA, Sencer DJ. Characteristics of completed suicides: implications of differences among methods. Suicide Lifethreat Behav. 1993;23(2):91–100.
23.
Knipe DW, Chang SS, Dawson A, Eddleston M, Konradsen F, Metcalfe C, Gunnell D. Suicide prevention through means restriction: impact of the 2008-2011 pesticide restrictions on suicide in Sri Lanka. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(3):e0172893.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
Gould MS, Kramer RA. Youth suicide prevention. Suicide Lifethreat Behav. 2001;31(Suppl):6–31.CrossRef
25.
Kim MH, Jung-Choi K, Jun HJ, Kawachi I. Socioeconomic inequalities in suicidal ideation, parasuicides, and completed suicides in South Korea. Soc Sci Med. 2010;70(8):1254–61.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Hong J, Knapp M. Geographical inequalities in suicide rates and area deprivation in South Korea. J Mental Health Policy Econ. 2013;16(3):109–19.
27.
Lee CJ, Collins KA, Burgess SE. Suicide under the age of eighteen: a 10-year retrospective study. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1999;20(1):27–30.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Uzun I, Karayel FA, Akyildiz EU, Turan AA, Toprak S, Arpak BB. Suicide among children and adolescents in a province of Turkey. J Forensic Sci. 2009;54(5):1097–100.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Agritmis H, Yayci N, Colak B, Aksoy E. Suicidal deaths in childhood and adolescence. Forensic Sci Int. 2004;142(1):25–31.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Suicidal deaths in elementary school students in Korea
Authors
Minha Hong
Han Nah Cho
Ah Reum Kim
Hyun Ju Hong
Yong-Sil Kweon
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1753-2000
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-017-0190-3

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 1/2017 Go to the issue

Research Article

Many, more, most: four risk profiles of adolescents in residential care with major psychiatric problems

Research article

Prevalence and associated factors of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among Ugandan children; a cross-sectional study

Research article

Emulsified omega-3 fatty-acids modulate the symptoms of depressive disorder in children and adolescents: a pilot study

Research article

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among schoolchildren in Cyprus: a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study

Research Article

Acceptance and commitment therapy universal prevention program for adolescents: a feasibility study

Research article

Distinct profiles of reactive and proactive aggression in adolescents: associations with cognitive and affective empathy