Suicide: victimized teens more at risk
A new聽study聽published in the (JAACAP)聽by the team of Dr聽Marie-Claude Geoffroy, researcher at the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'脦le-de-Montr茅al (Douglas mental health university institute,聽91社区聽group for suicide studies) and the聽Sainte-Justine聽hospital research centre, reports that adolescents chronically victimized during two school years at least, are about five times more at risk of thinking about suicide and six times more at risk of attempting suicide at聽age 15 compared to those who were never victimized.
This is the first study to show a predictive association between victimization, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in mid-adolescence. In聽Canada, 7.4% of adolescents aged 14-15 years seriously considered attempting suicide and 3.3% attempted suicide in 2008-2009 according to a study published in the聽Canadian Medical Association Journal聽in 2014.
The study used the data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, a general population sample of 1168 children born in 1997-98 in聽Quebec (Canada) and followed-up until their 15 years.
芦鈥塗he rate of suicidal ideation equals to 11.6聽% at age 13 and to 14.7聽% at age 15 for the youngs victimized. The suicide attempt rate is 5.4聽% at 13 and 6.8聽% at 15. In our study, we observed that these rates are much more higher among victimized adolescents compared to those who were not victimized. In the latter case, we rather talk about suicidal ideation rates of 2.7聽% at 13 and 4.1聽% at 15 and suicide attempt rates of 1.6 % at 13 and 1.9聽% at 15 禄, says Dr Geoffroy.
Peer victimization: a risk factor
Moreover, Dr Geoffroy showed that 13 years old adolescents victimized by their peers have two times more risk of having suicidal ideation two years later and are three times more at risks of suicide attempt. To achieve these results, the study takes into account a variety of factors, including suicidality at age 13, previous mental health problems such as depression, opposition/defiance and inattention/hyperactivity problems, as well as family adversity.
Overall, approximately 20% of the study participants report being exposed to victimization by their peers. Peer victimization includes actions such as being called names, spreading rumours, excluding someone from a group on purpose, attacking someone physically or cyberbullying.
芦鈥堿lthough peer victimization predicts suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, it does not necessarily cause it and this prediction does not apply to all individuals, says聽Marie-Claude Geoffroy. Only a minority of victims will later develop suicidal ideation or make suicide attempt. We do not currently know the reasons why such adverse experience affects individuals and who are the persons more vulnerable to the effects of victimization.鈥壜�
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Adolescence is a crucial period in regards to suicide prevention. Thus, the authors suggest that effective interventions may require a multidisciplinary effort involving parents, schoolteachers, principals and mental health professionals. All adolescents, victimized or not, who think often and/or seriously about suicide should see a mental health professionals such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist or an accredited psychotherapist.
This work was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Manulife Centre for Breakthroughs in Teen Depression and Suicide Prevention.
About the CIUSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'脦le-de-Montr茅al
The Centre int茅gr茅 universitaire de sant茅 et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de l'Ouest-de-l'脦le-de-Montr茅al is made up of the CSSS de l'Ouest-de-l'脦le, CSSS de聽Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle, St. Mary's Hospital, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, West Montreal Readaptation Centre, Grace Dart Extended Care Centre, and Batshaw Youth and Family Centres. It employs 9,000 staff members and 750 physicians.
About the Douglas mental health university institute
The Douglas is a world-class institute affiliated with聽91社区聽and the World Health Organization. It treats people suffering from mental illness and offers them both hope and healing. Its teams of specialists and researchers are constantly increasing scientific knowledge, integrating this knowledge into patient care, and sharing it with the community in order to educate the public and eliminate prejudices surrounding mental health.
Source
Centre int茅gr茅 universitaire de sant茅 et de services sociaux de l'Ouest-de-l'脦le-de-Montr茅al 聽聽
