Triggers for attempted suicide in Istanbul youth, with special reference to their socio-demographic background

Transcultural differences in suicide attempts among children and adolescents with and without migration background, a multicentre study: in Vienna, Berlin, Istanbul

While suicide can occur throughout the lifespan, worldwide suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged between 15 and 29 years. The aim of this multicentre study, conducted in Austria, Germany and Turkey, is to investigate the transcultural differences of suicide attempts among children and adolescents with and without migration background. The present study is a retrospective analyses of the records of 247 young people, who were admitted after a suicide attempt to Emergency Outpatient Clinics of Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the collaborating Universities including Medical University of Vienna, Charité University Medicine Berlin and Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine and Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital for Mental Health in Istanbul over a 3-year period. The results of the present study show significant transcultural differences between minors with and without migration background in regard to triggering reasons, method of suicide attempts and psychiatric diagnosis. The trigger event "intra-familial conflicts" and the use of "low-risk methods" for their suicide attempt were more frequent among patients with migration background. Moreover among native parents living in Vienna and Berlin divorce of parents were more frequent compared to parents living in Istanbul and migrants in Vienna. These results can be partly explained by cultural differences between migrants and host society. Also disadvantages in socio-economic situations of migrants and their poorer access to the healthcare system can mostly lead to acute and delayed treatments. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to understand better the impact of migration on the suicidal behaviour of young people.

Characteristics of Korean Children and Adolescents Who Die by Suicide Based on Teachers' Reports

We analyzed the clinical characteristics and suicide-related factors of students who died by suicide in Korea in 2016–2020, based on teachers’ reports. Using data on total suicide deaths (N = 654, mean age = 16.0, 52.6% boys) collected by the Ministry of Education of Korea, we investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics and suicide-related factors of suicide deaths in students aged 9–18 years. Considering gender, more boys (52.6%, N = 344) died by suicide than girls (47.4%, N = 310). About 425 (65.0%) of the suicides were among high school students. The most common suicide method was jumping from a high place (70.6%, N = 454), followed by hanging (25.7%, N = 165). Additionally, 9.4% (N = 48) of the students who died by suicide had a history of attempted suicide, 13.4% (N = 73) had attempted self-harm, and 12.8% (N = 48) were acquainted with someone who had died by suicide. Teachers observed 20.6% (N = 120) of the suicide warning signs at school. Girls tended to have higher rates of attempted suicide, emotional problems, and psychiatric disorders than boys. This study was conducted with the largest sample of Korean suicide students observed at school. Effective suicide-related mental health training for teachers could contribute to suicide prevention in students.

Characterization of suicide attempts and self-harm by adolescents and adults notified in Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2014-2018

OBJECTIVE

To characterize adolescent and adult suicide attempts and self-harm reported in Santa Catarina, Brazil, from 2014 to 2018.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study with data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System. The sociodemographic, clinical and type of self-inflicted violence characteristics among adolescents and adults were compared.

RESULTS

Among the 8,859 notifications analyzed, suicide attempts predominated in relation to self-mutilation; self-inflected violence was more frequent in females, those of white skin color and with mental disorders; it occurred more at home, in both age groups. Among adolescents, repeated self-mutilation (83.3%) stood out, while among adults, repeated suicide attempts (50.6%) and suspected alcohol use (18.3%) at the time of violence stood out.

CONCLUSION

We identified high prevalence of attempted suicide among adolescents and adults; the characteristics of violence were similar between the age groups analyzed.

Transcultural Differences in Risk Factors and in Triggering Reasons of Suicidal and Self-Harming Behaviour in Young People with and without a Migration Background

Minors with and without migration background can have different risk factors and triggering reasons for self-harming and suicidal behaviour. We retrospectively analysed the data of 192 children and adolescents to investigate the transcultural differences in self-harming, as well as suicidal behaviour in Austrian, Turkish, and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS)-speaking patients, who were treated in an emergency out-patient clinic in Vienna. Our results showed transcultural differences in both behaviours. In all groups, females had higher rates of suicide attempts and self-harming behaviour than males. While Turkish-speaking patients received treatment more often, after attempted suicide, Austrians and BCS-speaking patients needed treatment more often for acute stress disorder. Suicide attempts and self-harming behaviours were triggered most frequently by intrafamilial problems, but more frequently in migrant patients. Turkish-speaking patients were at a more than 2 times (OR = 2.21, 95%CI: 1.408–3.477) higher risk for suicide attempts, and were triggered almost 3 times (OR = 2.94, 95%CI: 1.632–5.304) more often by interfamilial conflicts. The suicide attempts of BCS-speaking minors were more often caused by relationship and separation crises (OR = 2.56, 95%CI: 1.148–5.705). These transcultural differences in suicidal and self-harming behaviour of minors, demand an increase of transcultural competence to provide optimal treatment of migrant children.

Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among Tunisian adolescents: prevalence and associated factors

Introduction

Studies directed on suicidal behavior in North African adolescents are rare. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts among high school students in Tunisia and to determine factors associated with this suicidal behavior.

Methods

This is an analytical cross-sectional study composed of a population containing 821 high school students obtained through cluster sampling. The participants completed a pre-established form related to socio-demographic characteristics and anxiety symptoms, the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised, the Beck depression scale, and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale.

Results

The mean age of the adolescents was 17.7±0.97 years. Prevalence of suicidal behavior was 26.9% for brief passing suicidal thoughts, 9.6% for serious suicidal thoughts, and 7.3% for suicide attempts. Six determining factors of suicidal behavior were found: female gender (OR=2.56 (1.32-4.95); p= 0.005), personal history of depression (OR=2.29 (1.38-3.80); p=0.001), tobacco smoking (OR=3.59 (1.61-8.01); p=0.002), current depression symptoms (OR=5.50 (2.14-14.11); p<0.001), history of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (OR= 3.16 (2.05-4.86); p<0.001), and low self-esteem (OR=2.74 (1.71-4.38); p<0.001).

Conclusion

Suicidal ideation and attempts are frequent among Tunisian adolescents and represent a serious public health problem. An urgent national prevention program is required.

Mental health problems of children and adolescents, with and without migration background, living in Vienna, Austria

BACKGROUND

Compared to their indigenous peers, migrant children and adolescents are at increased risk for mental health problems. The aim of our study was to compare psychological disorders of children and adolescents with Turkish migration background and their native Austrian peers.

METHODS

We analysed 302 children and adolescents aged between 7 and 18 years. The sample consisted of 100 Austrian and 100 Turkish outpatients with mental health problems, and 102 healthy controls, 52 with Austrian and 50 with Turkish background, recruited from various Viennese local child and youth centres.

RESULTS

Native patients had more frequently externalizing problems (42.1%) compared to the Turkish-speaking sample (28%). However, in the control group, Turkish-speaking children and adolescents had higher levels of internalizing, depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to their native peers.

CONCLUSIONS

We found noticeable differences in psychological problems among children and adolescents with and without migration background. We assume that migration-related stress factors are responsible for these differences. Also, children and adolescents with migration background seek for psychological help less frequently than their indigenous peers.

Transcultural differences of psychologically traumatised children and adolescents

Background

The symptoms following a traumatic event as well as the coping strategies can be culture specific. The objective of the present study was to analyse the transcultural differences of psychologically traumatized children and adolescents with and without migration background.

Methods

The medical files of 199 psychologically traumatized children and adolescents (99 native Austrian, 100 Turkish-speaking) who were treated at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Vienna were retrospectively analysed.

Results

The most frequently observed causes of trauma in patients with Turkish migration background were intra-familial conflicts, forced separation from parent(s), and conforming to a new environment. In native Austrian patients, forced separation from parent(s) and divorce or separation of parents were the leading causes of trauma. Trauma-related symptoms like changed mood, cognitive and perceptual disturbance, social withdrawal, sleeping problems, somatisation and behavioural problems were similarly observed in both groups; “sleeping problems” were more often observed in Austrian patients, and “behavioural problems” were more often observed in Turkish patients. More Austrian patients (32.7%) obtained psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment. Turkish-speaking patients mostly obtained psychiatric treatment only. Patients with migration background were more compliant compared to indigenous patients.

Conclusions

Both study groups differed in type, causes and symptoms of trauma, and in preferred therapy. Turkish-speaking patients were more compliant with therapy, as they received culture and language-sensitive medical advice and treatment in their mother tongue. Considering the cultural background of patients can optimize service delivery and therapy outcomes among children and adolescents with stressful and traumatic experiences.