Suicide among adolescents and young adults: A cross-national comparison of34 countries

Few cross-national reports have examined suicide rates among adolescents an d young adults. A survey of suicides among 15-24-year-olds in 34 of the wea lthiest nations demonstrated that 15,555 youths killed themselves in a 1-ye ar study period. Thirty-four percent of these suicides were firearm-related . Finland led the participating nations in total and firearm-related suicid e rates. An association was found between divorce rates and youth suicide r ates, firearm-related suicide among youths, and suicide rates among young m ales. For a smaller sample of countries, an association was found between f irearm availability and firearm-related suicide rates among youths and suic ide rates among young males.