Rodway et al, 2020

In this study, we examined whether there was a group of young people who died by suicide without explicit warning signs, and if they indicated risk indirectly through other suicide risk factors.

Between 2014 and 2016, there were almost 600 young people aged under 20 who died by suicide. Around a third represented a ‘minimal warning’ group; they had no known history of self-harm or suicidal ideas, and lower rates of other risk factors, such as alcohol and/or drug misuse, a mental health diagnosis, recent life events, and were less likely to be involved with services.

Suicidal ideas may escalate quickly in response to adverse events in this age group, and crisis services should therefore be widely available, as well as teaching young people how they can recognise suicide risk in themselves and those around them.

Read the full paper:

• Suicide in children and young people: can it happen without warning? (Journal of Affective Disorders)

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