The Rate of Suicide and its Reasons in Children Under the Age of 18 Years

The type of suicide is determined by various factors, such as accessibility to drugs, economic problems, and psychological disorders.This study aimed to assess the rate of suicide and its reasons in children <18 years.

This was a cross-sectional study carried out on 350 autopsy bodies less than 18 years of age in Tehran Forensic Medicine Center in 2010-2020 who had struggled with suicide. Data were analyzed using SPSS software v. 18.

Mean±SD age of children was 16.36±1.76 years. The most common method in children less than 15 years and over 15 years was hanging (n=36) and poisoning with chemical substances (n=139), respectively (P<0.001). The most common method of suicide was poisoning with chemical substances (n=147, 42%). The most common method of suicide in girls and boys was poisoning with chemical substances (n=81) and hanging (n=75), respectively. The highest number of children who struggled were residents in the outskirt of Tehran (n=113, 32.5%). The suicide rate in people with depressive disorder and tentative injury was 10% (n=35) and 18.6% (n=65). In 13 patients, vitreous humor alcohol was positive (Mean±SD alcohol: 60.61±43.03 mg/dl). The most common toxin observed in toxicology was rice tablet or aluminum phosphide (n=90, 25.7%). Regarding drug toxicity in toxicology, 52.6% (n=86) was not positive. Opium was found in 7.4% of cases (n=26).

The suicide rate has been on the rise during the past ten years through hanging and poisoning with chemical substances, such as aluminum phosphide, opium, and tricyclic antidepressants, especially in the outskirts.