Developmental Considerations

Suicide rates tend to increase with age. This is due in part to the fact that risk factors for suicide, for example, major depressive disorders, increase during adolescence. ¹¹ There is also a high level of co-morbidity, especially mood, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders observed among adolescent suicide victims. ¹² Furthermore, certain social stressors (e.g. romantic relationships, educational challenges and pressures) which exacerbate suicide risk when they co-occur with other vulnerabilities also tend to increase during the adolescent period.¹³

Though statistically rare, suicide does occur among pre-pubertal children.¹⁴ It is important not to underestimate children’s understandings of the meaning of suicide, nor to discount the possibility that children do engage in suicidal behaviour. Other issues to consider when thinking about suicide risk among children include: ¹⁵ ¹⁶

By age nine, children usually have a thorough understanding of suicide
The younger the child, the less complex and more immediately available the method
Suicide among children is often associated with parent-child conflict

Example questions for assessing suicide risk in pre-pubertal children are included in the section on risk assessment.

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Developmental Considerations