81 children in BC killed themselves in last 4 years: most at risk are teenage boys, gay teens and aboriginal youth

Suicide is the second-leading cause of preventable death for British Columbia children between 12 and 18, a new study of youth suicide said Tuesday.

The B.C. Coroners Service report said 81 children killed themselves between 2003 and 2007, and 70 per cent of them had shown signs of suicidal behaviour and reached out to someone for help.

“Parents and family members told us that in hindsight they noticed changes in behaviour — kids withdrawing, changing their patterns, neglecting their personal hygiene,” said Kellie Kilpatrick, director of the Coroners Service’s child death review unit.

“And they put it down to normal adolescent angst, which it may very well be, but I think these children and youth deaths have shown us we have to pay attention, we have to listen.”

The groups most at risk are teenage boys, gay teens and aboriginal youth, the report said.

The report, prepared by a special panel including parents, mental health experts and researchers, makes 17 recommendations.

The provincial government needs to establish a suicide-prevention program and to better understand the signs of children at risk of suicide, the report said.

“We want to get the message out to kids and families to start talking about child safety and well-being, and encourage families to talk,” Kilpatrick said.

Prevention education a key

See 81 children in BC killed themselves in last 4 years: report
CBC.ca, Canada