Alarming rise in teen girls’ suicide deaths

Experts are worried by a disturbing rise in death by suicide among teen girls – but the data does not include time during the pandemic.

A disturbing increase in teenage girls dying by suicide has been identified in a Flinders University study.

The trend was consistent with increasing depression and anxiety among young women, Sydney University’s Ian Hickie said.

“This contrasts with the historical view,” Prof Hickie said, where young women might attempt suicide as a “cry for help” without a lethal outcome.

The Flinders study tracked cases from 1964 to 2018, finding a rate of 6.4 suicide deaths per 100,000 girls aged 15-19 among those born between 1999 and 2003. That contrasted with a rate below three among females of the same age born between 1959 and 1968.

Boys have consistently recorded more death by suicides, but there has been improvement, with the rate from the ages of 15-19 peaking above 18 per 100,000 for the cohort born 1974-78 and dropping to 12.3 for the most recent group, born 1999-2003.

Experts are worried suicide risk factors may have worsened during the coronavirus pandemic but said it was too early to be sure.

Victorian data for all age groups shows a slight decrease in the year to September compared with the same period in 2019.

Among under 18s, suicides by Victorian boys to date in 2020 equals the 13 deaths in the whole of 2019, but suicides by girls has reduced considerably from eight to one.

Flinders University professor Mike Kyrios said a breakdown in social cohesion, as has happened in the pandemic, was a known risk.

“There’s breakdown between the individual and their community, social bonds are more tenuous, you’ve got demonstrations in the street arguing against government health policy, you’re cut off from your peer group,” Prof Kyrios said.

At-risk families were particularly vulnerable, with ­increased drinking, drug ­consumption and domestic violence.

However it was complex, with some people, particularly youth, having more support available such as parents spending more time with them.

There was also more ­publicity about mental health services.

Originally published as Alarming rise in teen girls’ suicide deaths