Recent changes in suicide among adolescents in England and Wales

Abstract

This paper examines suicide statistics in the 15-19 years group in England and Wales between 1950 and 1984. There was an increase in suicide rate for both sexes between 1950 and the mid 1960''s, largely due to suicide using domestic gas. The rate then decreased as domestic gas was detoxified, and this was followed by a further increase in suicide associated with poisoning with solids and liquids until the late 1970''s. More recently there has been an increase, particularly for males, in suicide by hanging, strangulation and suffocation, poisoning with vehicle exhaust gas and firearms and explosives.