Suicide is now the leading cause of death among teenagers, according to a federal government task force, whose five-year study is expected to be released this summer.
Psychologist, Dr. Diane Syer-Solursh, head of the task force, announced some of its findings at an April meeting of the American Association of Suicidology in Toronto.
Dr. Syer-Solursh pointed out that, in 1983, nearly 4,000 Canadians killed themselves, and the numbers increase yearly. More than 75 percent of the total suicides are men, and the age of those most prone to take their own lives is between 20 and 24. In that age group, the ratio of male suicides is nearly seven to one.
Teenagers are at risk also and the task force will urge that suicide-prevention programs be introduced into public schools. Also alarming is the incidence of suicide in children between 5 and 9 years old. At least a dozen children in this age group are known to have committed suicide since 1971.
Dr. Syer-Solursh said she was surprised by the statistics, although she dislikes describing it as epidemic. She is especially surprised at the figures for the young male age group. Addressing the phenomenon of teen suicide, she attributed it partly to increased mobility and to the breakdown of families.
