A small number of children in Ireland are displaying suicidal behaviour although actual child suicide is still uncommon, according to professor of child psychiatry at UCD, Prof Carol Fitzpatrick.
At the sixth annual Irish Association of Suicidology conference, in Cork, Prof Fitzpatrick said it was important to realise children were not immune to suicide. "Child suicide is still rare and has received relatively little attention, but the few studies that have been done show that they seem to have the same risk factors as older adolescents."
In the past 10 years more than 40 children under 15 have died by suicide in Ireland. A recent study by the Department of Child and Family Psychiatry in the Mater Hospital looked at 14 children, 13 of them boys, aged between six and 11, referred over a two-year period because of suicidal preoccupation or behaviour. Most came from families where parents had separated. Frequently, there was ongoing conflict over a child's access to the father. Poverty and a family history of depression and suicidal behaviour were also common factors.
The same risk factors were, however, identified in young people referred for reasons other than suicidal behaviour. "In other words the risk factors we identified in the suicidal children place them at risk of mental health problems in general, but not at risk specifically for suicidal behaviour."
Prof Fitzpatrick said it was difficult for parents to differentiate between teenage tantrums and psychiatric illness. Most teenagers who died by suicide were not in contact with "helping agencies" at the time of their deaths, though research showed many had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder in the months preceding their deaths.
"Only 25 per cent of young people who die by suicide have had treatment for a mental health disorder at any stage, and only a handful of these are currently receiving treatment at the time of their death," she said.
Prof Fitzpatrick also said Ireland would have to address alcohol-abuse if it was serious about preventing suicide. She added the Government needed to make effective and accessible mental-health services available to young people.
"Our current services for children under 16 have improved in the past five years but are still seriously under-resourced, while those for 16- to 18-year-olds are grossly inadequate."
She welcomed the setting up of a working group by the Department of Health and Children, which is reviewing child and adolescent psychiatric services.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, told the conference 16to 18-year-olds had been placed in "inappropriate settings for far too long" and said the Government was committed to change. "Mental health is not a minority issue. We need to continue the ongoing destigmatisation of mental health."