To examine national suicide trends among Danish adolescents aged 15 to 19 years from 2021 to 2025, particularly in light of a sharp rise in suicides observed in 2024.
Approach:
Data Source: Utilized the Danish Cause of Death Registry to identify suicides among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years from 2021 to 2025.
Statistical Analysis: Calculated suicide incidence rates and compared observed counts with expected values, using Poisson regression models.
Benchmarking: Compared trends against individuals aged 20 to 24 years and assessed contributions from various factors (calendar quarter, region, sex, age, method).
Key Findings:
A total of 88 suicides occurred among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years from 2021 to 2025, with a significant increase to 27 in 2024 and 10 in 2025.
Suicide rates increased from an expected level of 4.1 to 7.7 per 100,000 person-years in 2024, an increase of 85.5%.
The increase was particularly pronounced among females (91.7%) and males (81.0%) in 2024.
The rise in suicides was not observed in the 20 to 24 age group, which showed relative reductions.
Interpretation:
The significant increase in suicide rates among 15- to 19-year-olds in 2024 was not attributable to a single factor.
Limitations:
The observed increase was largely driven by 2024 data, limiting conclusions about sustained trends.
Lack of detailed information on circumstances and precipitating factors underlying the suicides restricts interpretation.
Conclusion:
The study highlights a concerning rise in youth suicides, particularly among males.
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