Trends in suicide rates and methods among children and youth compared to adults in Spain: a register-based study, 2000–2023

• Marina Adrados-Pérez ^[4] ; Vicent Llorca-Bofí ^[5] ; Didac Florensa ^[1] ; Mario Gil-Conesa ^[2] ; Vincenzo Oliva ^[3] ; Meritxel Rafel-Forns ^[6] ; María Mur-Laín ^[7] ; Maria Irigoyen-Otiñano ^[7]
  1. [1] Universitat de Lleida

     Universitat de Lleida

     Lérida, España

     
  2. [2] Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera

     Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera

     Valencia, España

     
  3. [3] Universitat de Barcelona

     Universitat de Barcelona

     Barcelona, España

     
  4. [4] Department of Psychiatry, Institut Pere Mata Hospital, Reus, Tarragona, Spain
  5. [5] Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Neuroscience Institute, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut D'Investigacions Biom`ediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigaci´on Biom´edica en Red de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain c University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  6. [6] Departament of Social Work, Santa Maria University Hospital Lleida, Lleida, Spain
  7. [7] Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Santa Maria, Lleida; Department of Medicine and Surgery, Universitat de Lleida, Institut de Recerca Biom`edica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Spain

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• Localización: European journal of psychiatry, ISSN 0213-6163, Vol. 40, Nº 3, 2026
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpsy.2026.100356
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• Resumen

  • Background and objectives: Suicide is a leading cause of mortality among young people. This study examined temporal trends in suicide rates and methods among individuals under 30 years in Spain between 2000 and 2023, compared with adults.

    Methods: A time-series analysis of population-level suicide indicators based on data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute. A total of 85,299 suicides were classified by age group (<15, 15–29, ≥30 years), sex, and method. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate trends. Annual Percent Change (APC) represents change within segments, whereas Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) summarizes the overall period.

    Results: Among those under 15, rates increased from 2011 onward (APC = 12.1%; 95% CI: 1.6 to 75.9), with defenestration the predominant method (41.7%) and showing a marked upward trend (AAPC = 25.4%; 95% CI:

    10.2 to 42.5). In individuals aged 15–29, rates declined among males between 2000 and 2010 but increased among females from 2010 (APC = 4.5%; 95% CI: 1.7 to 17.6); and non-violent methods (poisoning or drug overdose) also became more frequent. In adults aged ≥30, overall rates were relatively stable, although non- violent methods increased from 2018 (APC = 8.1%; 95% CI: 2.0 to 23.6).

    Conclusion: Although these estimates should be interpreted cautiously given the small number of events, the results indicate a recent increase in suicides among children under 15 and young women, as well as age- and sex- specific changes in the methods used. Defenestration and the use of non-violent methods showed increases among younger population groups.