Death by suicide is the third leading cause of death for 10-18-year-olds, and the second leading cause of death for 19-24-year-olds in BC.²

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OVERVIEW

In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of injury death for British Columbians aged 15-24 years and older, followed by other injuries such as motor vehicle collisions.¹

In 2020, death rates for youth suicide in British Columbia were almost double in males in comparison with females.¹

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts are the second leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for those aged 10-14 and the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for those aged 15-24.¹

Males 20-24-years-old have the highest rates of suicide in the 10-24 age group; whereas females aged 15-19-years-old have the highest rates of NSSI, suicide gestures, and suicide attempts among all ages.¹

More males die by suicide than females¹, but more females are hospitalized due to attempted suicide than males.³

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RESEARCH

BCIRPU supports the prevention of suicide and self-harm-related injuries at the policy, practice, and community levels. Youth suicide and self-harm prevention is one of the provincial priorities for injury prevention.

Suicide among children and youth in British Columbia: patterns and trends (ongoing)

Researchers are exploring suicide trends and patterns among 10 to 24-year-olds in BC, to better understand demographic information, and means of suicide. Work is also being done to understand trends and patterns of self-harm hospitalizations and effective measures to decrease these injuries. Results from this work will inform provincial-level work plans and prevention initiatives.

PREVENTION

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, or is thinking about suicide or has attempted suicide or self-harm in the past:

• Kids Help Phone offers 24/7 support for youth (1-800-668-6868), and have some articles on how to talk to your kids and teens about COVID-19 on their website.
• 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
• Youth in BC (up to 25 years old): Youth In BC; Kelty Mental Health
• Online Safety and Preventing Cyberbullying: Government of BC

In 2019, the BC Coroners Service Death Review Panel examined deaths among children and youth. The resulting report (PDF) had the following recommendations for prevention:³

• Understanding and addressing the conditions which cause mental distress, feelings of hopelessness or despair
• Reducing exposure to adverse experiences in early childhood
• Promoting connectedness to school and to significant adults, teaching coping and problem-solving skills
• Creating protective, supportive, accepting, and safe environments
• Reducing stigma and discrimination
• Restricting means of access (e.g. make it difficult for persons to access poisons, guns or pills, and have safety measures on bridges)
• Ensuring responsible media reporting
• Offering accessible support for vulnerable children and youth
• Ensuring that those children and youth experiencing a mental health crisis receive timely evidence-based treatment and careof self-harm hospitalizations and the effective measures