Are Suicidal Phenomena in Children Different to Suicidal Phenomena in Adolescents? A Six‐Year Review

Background: There has been little published about the nature and frequency of suicidal phenomena in children compared to that of adolescents. Method: Standardised information on all presentations with suicidal phenomena to the Children’s University Hospital, Dublin from 2002 to 2008 were retrospectively analysed from a centralised database. Results: During the time period of the study, 401 young people presented for assessment, of whom 21.9% (N = 88) were under 12 years of age. Children differed from adolescents in terms of gender distribution, method of self‐harm, and risk factors present. Conclusion: Children under 12 are capable of displaying suicidal phenomena and differ considerably to adolescents in this regard.