Suicide among young people: An epidemiological analysis in three Italian provinces

Background: suicides among young people, aged between 10 and 24, were asses sed over the period examined (1988 - 1994) in the Italian Provinces of Turi n and Novara-Verbania. Method: data was collected from the Archives of the Law Courts from the Pro vinces examined. We assessed trend and sociodemographic variables. Results: the rates of suicide found are in accordance with previous data, S uicide is more frequent in higher age groups and among males. Males choose more lethal methods to commit suicide. Psychiatric illness is the most freq uent reason reported, along with problems typically present in the juvenile population, such as psychosocial. reasons and substance abuse. Conclusions: trend of suicide is strongly linked to demographic variables a nd to specific problems of adolescence.