IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socpsy/v69y2023i7p1649-1657.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Suicides among Children and Adolescents in Paraguay: An 18-year National Exploratory Study (2004–2022)

Author

Listed:
  • Julio Torales
  • Iván Barrios
  • Juan Edgar Tullo-Gómez
  • Osvaldo Melgarejo
  • Nora Gómez
  • Viviana Riego
  • Rodrigo Navarro
  • Oscar García
  • Pamela Figueredo
  • José Almirón-Santacruz
  • Tomás Caycho-Rodríguez
  • João Mauricio Castaldelli-Maia
  • Antonio Ventriglio

Abstract

Background: Suicide and suicide attempts are impacting events for patients and their relatives, and these behaviors are still taboo among adults and may be even more traumatic when involving children and adolescents. Aim: In this study we aimed to describe suicide rates among children and adolescents in Paraguay over the last decades as well as associated factors such as sociodemographic characteristics and methods used for suicide. Methods: This was an observational and exploratory study describing the frequency and characteristics of suicide among children and adolescents in Paraguay between 2004 and 2022. Official records of all deaths by suicide were reviewed, and statistical analyses were performed. In addition, an attempt was made to predict the number of suicides in the next 5 years using a mathematical model based on simple linear regression. Results: In the 18-year period observed, 940 suicides among children and adolescents were recorded. The mean age was 15.05 ± 1.8 years old. Of these, 51.17% were male, 74.6% were from urban areas, and 22.2% were from the Greater Asunción and Central Department of Paraguay. The most frequently used method of suicide was intentional self-inflicted injury by hanging, strangulation, or suffocation, which all represented 75.3% of the cases. Our mathematical modeling based on simple linear regression determined that the expected yearly number of national suicides in the pediatric population for the following years, from 2023 to 2027, will range between 72 and 81. Conclusion: This study is the first large national epidemiological report on the emerging issue of suicide among children and adolescents in Paraguay. It may be a relevant source of information for mental health professionals, health authorities, and decision makers to develop national prevention strategies and actions against suicide among youths.

Suggested Citation

  • Julio Torales & Iván Barrios & Juan Edgar Tullo-Gómez & Osvaldo Melgarejo & Nora Gómez & Viviana Riego & Rodrigo Navarro & Oscar García & Pamela Figueredo & José Almirón-Santacruz & Tomás Caych, 2023. "Suicides among Children and Adolescents in Paraguay: An 18-year National Exploratory Study (2004–2022)," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(7), pages 1649-1657, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:69:y:2023:i:7:p:1649-1657
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640231169656
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00207640231169656
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/00207640231169656?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Isabella Berardelli & Elena Rogante & Salvatore Sarubbi & Denise Erbuto & Mariarosaria Cifrodelli & Cristina Concolato & Massimo Pasquini & David Lester & Marco Innamorati & Maurizio Pompili, 2022. "Is Lethality Different between Males and Females? Clinical and Gender Differences in Inpatient Suicide Attempters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-8, October.
    2. Salima Meherali & Neelam Punjani & Samantha Louie-Poon & Komal Abdul Rahim & Jai K. Das & Rehana A. Salam & Zohra S. Lassi, 2021. "Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Amidst COVID-19 and Past Pandemics: A Rapid Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Margarida Frade dos Santos & Celeste Simões & Anabela Caetano Santos & Paula Lebre & Ilaria Grazzani, 2022. "Does Online Implementation Make a Difference in the Effects of a Mental Health Curriculum at Schools?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Francesco Demaria & Stefano Vicari, 2023. "Adolescent Distress: Is There a Vaccine? Social and Cultural Considerations during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    3. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Renata Tambelli & Elena Trombini & Leonardo De Pascalis & Alessandra Babore & Carmen Trumello & Silvia Cimino, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Families’ Mental Health: The Role Played by Parenting Stress, Parents’ Past Trauma, and Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Anna Maria Werling & Susanne Walitza & Stephan Eliez & Renate Drechsler, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health Care of Children and Adolescents in Switzerland: Results of a Survey among Mental Health Care Professionals after One Year of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Daniel Acosta & Yui Fujii & Diana Joyce-Beaulieu & K. D. Jacobs & Anthony T. Maurelli & Eric J. Nelson & Sarah L. McKune, 2021. "Psychosocial Health of K-12 Students Engaged in Emergency Remote Education and In-Person Schooling: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    6. Luigi Aldieri, 2023. "Il ruolo degli aspetti non monetari per la determinazione della situazione di benessere: Un’analisi regionale in Italia," Regional Economy, , vol. 7(Q2), pages 47088-47088.
    7. Andi Muhammad Tri Sakti & Siti Zaiton Mohd Ajis & Arina Anis Azlan & Hyung Joon Kim & Elizabeth Wong & Emma Mohamad, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 on School Populations and Associated Factors: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    8. Panagis Galiatsatos & Vanya Jones & Jacqueline Bryan & Meghan Brown & Olivia Banks & Brittany Martin & Megan Collins & Catherine Ling & Mindi B. Levin & Audrey Johnson & Alicia Wilson & Annette Anders, 2023. "The Health Education and Training (HEAT) Corps: A Medical–Community Collaboration Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-8, January.
    9. Choi, Namkee G. & Nathan Marti, C. & Choi, Bryan Y., 2024. "Serious suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and mental health service use among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. Ákos Levente Tóth & Zsuzsanna Kívés & Etelka Szovák & Réka Kresák & Sára Jeges & Bendegúz Kertai & Imre Zoltán Pelyva, 2022. "Sense of Coherence and Self-Rated Aggression of Adolescents during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, with a Focus on the Effects of Animal Assisted Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Werner, Katharina & Woessmann, Ludger, 2021. "The Legacy of COVID-19 in Education," IZA Discussion Papers 14796, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    12. Ana Paula Oliveira & Joana Rita Nobre & Henrique Luis & Luis Soares Luis & Lara Guedes Pinho & Núria Albacar-Riobóo & Carlos Sequeira, 2022. "Social Media Use and Its Association with Mental Health and Internet Addiction among Portuguese Higher Education Students during COVID-19 Confinement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Lisanne Vonk & Iris Eekhout & Tim Huijts & Mark Levels & Maria Jansen, 2024. "School Health Promotion, the Body Mass Index z-Score, and Psychosocial Health in Primary Schools of the Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-14, August.
    14. Markus Stracke & Miriam Heinzl & Anne Dorothee Müller & Kristin Gilbert & Anne Amalie Elgaard Thorup & Jean Lillian Paul & Hanna Christiansen, 2023. "Mental Health Is a Family Affair—Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Associations between Mental Health Problems in Parents and Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    15. Orit Shapiro & Rachel Nissanholtz Gannot & Gizell Green & Avi Zigdon & Moti Zwilling & Ariela Giladi & Lilach Ben-Meir & Marques Adilson & Sharon Barak & Yossi Harel-Fisch & Riki Tesler, 2022. "Risk Behaviors, Family Support, and Emotional Health among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-13, March.
    16. Hassall, Alison & McKenna, Sarah & Pasalich, Dave S., 2024. "How does kinship and foster care differ on caregiver-child relationship quality and child and caregiver mental health?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    17. Hexiao Ding & Ziruo Xu & Wangjing Hu & Yannan Guo & Cailing Wang & Sicheng Li & Zhengyang Hui & Jing Wang & Xinran Peng & Wei Xia, 2023. "Changes of stressful life events, coping strategies and mental health among youths in the pre- and post-coronavirus 2019 pandemic era: A cross-sectional study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(8), pages 2018-2030, December.
    18. Laura Hofmann & Birgit Wagner, 2023. "Men’s Behavior and Communication in the Days Prior to a Suicide—A Psychological Autopsy Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-12, August.
    19. Devin P. Adams & Jasmine R. Holt & Jenna A. Martin & Danielle M. Houpy & Kathryn A. Hollenbach, 2022. "The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on PHQ Depression Screening Scores for High School Athletes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-9, August.
    20. Wandeep Kaur & Vimala Balakrishnan & Yoke Yong Chen & Jeyarani Periasamy, 2022. "Mental Health Risk Factors and Coping Strategies among Students in Asia Pacific during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:69:y:2023:i:7:p:1649-1657. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.