Suicidal behaviours

What adolescents told us about suicidal behaviours

Suicidal behaviours include suicidal ideation (serious thoughts about taking one's own life), suicide plans and suicide attempts. These differ from self-harm in that the self-injury is intended to end in death.

• • About one in thirteen (7.5%) 12-17 year-olds had seriously considered attempting suicide in the previous 12 months. This is equivalent to around 128,000 young people aged 12-17 years.
  • One in twenty (5.2%) had made a plan.
  • One in forty (2.4%) or around 41,000 12‑17 year‑olds reported having attempted suicide in the previous 12 months. One quarter or 0.6% received medical treatment as a result of their injuries.
  • Suicidal behaviours were more common in females than males and in 16-17 year-olds compared with younger adolescents.
  •  Around one in seven (15.4%) females aged 16-17 years had seriously considered attempting suicide and one in twenty (4.7%) had attempted suicide in the previous 12 months.
  • The rates of all suicidal behaviours were markedly higher in young people with major depressive disorder. These were even higher for young females with major depressive disorder.
    - Approximately half (56.4%) of females aged 12‑17 years with major depressive disorder (based on self-report) had seriously considered suicide and just over a fifth (22.1%) had attempted suicide in the previous 12 months.
    - 13.8% of males aged 12-17 years with major depressive disorder (based on self-report) had attempted suicide in the previous 12 months.