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Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 34 No. 4, 2022.

Short communication, Note

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2022.715

TRENDS IN ADOLESCENT COMPLETED SUICIDE IN CROATIA FOR THE PERIOD OF 2000 TO 2020

Vlatka Boričević Maršanić ; Center for Children, Adolescents and Parents, Zagreb, Croatia ; Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Maja Silobrčić Radić ; Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Mia Flander Tadić ; Centre for Social Welfare Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

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page 715-718

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Abstract

Background: Croatia belongs to the countries with a medium mortality rate due to suicide in youths. Previous epidemiological
reports indicated a decreasing trend of suicide rates in adolescents. However, recent trend analysis in youth suicide rates in Croatia
are missing. This study aimed to describe recent trends in child and adolescent completed suicide in Croatia and to compare the
rates and methods of suicide („means“) across demographic groups.
Subjects and methods: Data from the Croatian Committed Suicide Registry were used to calculate age-specific rates of suicide
from 2000 to 2020 among 0 to 24 year olds, overall and by age, gender, and means of suicide.
Results: The total average suicide rate for Croatian children and adolescents during the study period was 4.12 per 100,000. The
male–female ratio was 4.1:1. The total youth suicide rate and male suicide rate significantly declined from 2000 to 2020; however,
the decrease in female rates did not reach statistical significance. Nearly half of all suicides among Croatian youth of both gender
occurred through hanging, whereas using firearms was the second-most common suicide method in males and jumping from a height
in females.
Conclusions: Suicide rates among children and adolescents in Croatia continue to decrease. High-risk groups include
adolescents aged 20-24 years and male youth, so these data should be considered when designing prevention programmes for youth
suicide.

Keywords

children ; 715 adolescents; suicide; rates; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

291849

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/291849

Publication date:

22.12.2022.

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