Child Suicide in the North of Portugal |
| |
| Authors: | Ricardo Mendes M.D. M.Sc. Sara Santos M.D. M.Sc. Francisco Taveira M.D. M.Sc. Ricardo Jorge Dinis‐Oliveira Pharm.D. Ph.D. Agostinho Santos M.D. Ph.D. Teresa Magalhães M.D. Ph.D. |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal;2. College of Health Technology of Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito 322, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal;3. Biomedical Sciences Institute “Abel Salazar”, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal;4. Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal;5. Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal;6. Department of Sciences, Advanced Institute of Health Sciences – North (ISCS‐N), CESPU, CRL, Rua Central da Gandra 1317, Gandra, Portugal;7. REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal;8. Health Sciences School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal;9. Additional information and reprint requests:;10. Teresa Magalhães, M.D., Ph.D.;11. Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences;12. Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto;13. Alameda Prof. Hernãni Monteiro;14. 4200‐319 Porto;15. Portugal;16. E‐mail: |
| |
| Abstract: | Suicide in children is a rare finding and is probably motivated by acts of impulsiveness. This study aims to contribute to the characterization of child suicide in a forensic perspective in the Portuguese population. Data of forensic autopsies from 2004 to 2012 related to suicide victims under 18 years were reviewed. A total of 17 cases, with a male predominance (64.7%) and a mean age of 15.24 ± 1.348 for both genders, were registered. The leading suicide method was hanging (35.3%), and a suicide note was found in 41.2%. Psychological autopsy proved to be useful in promoting a better understanding of these incidents and their antecedents. This study also offers useful information, namely the implied risk factors, for future programs of suicide research and prevention. |
| |
| Keywords: | forensic science suicide children adolescents risk factors autopsy |
|
|
