Child Suicide in the North of Portugal
Ricardo Mendes M.D., M.Sc.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
College of Health Technology of Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito 322, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorSara Santos M.D., M.Sc.
Biomedical Sciences Institute “Abel Salazar”, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorFrancisco Taveira M.D., M.Sc.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
Biomedical Sciences Institute “Abel Salazar”, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorRicardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
Department of Sciences, Advanced Institute of Health Sciences – North (ISCS-N), CESPU, CRL, Rua Central da Gandra 1317, Gandra, Portugal
REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorAgostinho Santos M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
Health Sciences School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Teresa Magalhães M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
Biomedical Sciences Institute “Abel Salazar”, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
Additional information and reprint requests:
Teresa Magalhães, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto
Alameda Prof. Hernãni Monteiro
4200-319 Porto
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRicardo Mendes M.D., M.Sc.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
College of Health Technology of Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito 322, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorSara Santos M.D., M.Sc.
Biomedical Sciences Institute “Abel Salazar”, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorFrancisco Taveira M.D., M.Sc.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
Biomedical Sciences Institute “Abel Salazar”, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorRicardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
Department of Sciences, Advanced Institute of Health Sciences – North (ISCS-N), CESPU, CRL, Rua Central da Gandra 1317, Gandra, Portugal
REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorAgostinho Santos M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
Health Sciences School, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Teresa Magalhães M.D., Ph.D.
National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, Porto, Portugal
Biomedical Sciences Institute “Abel Salazar”, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, Porto, Portugal
Forensic Sciences Center – CENCIFOR, largo da Sé Nova, Coimbra, Portugal
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
Additional information and reprint requests:
Teresa Magalhães, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences
Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto
Alameda Prof. Hernãni Monteiro
4200-319 Porto
Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Suicide in children is a rare finding and is probably motivated by acts of impulsiveness. This study aims to contribute to the characterization of child suicide in a forensic perspective in the Portuguese population. Data of forensic autopsies from 2004 to 2012 related to suicide victims under 18 years were reviewed. A total of 17 cases, with a male predominance (64.7%) and a mean age of 15.24 ± 1.348 for both genders, were registered. The leading suicide method was hanging (35.3%), and a suicide note was found in 41.2%. Psychological autopsy proved to be useful in promoting a better understanding of these incidents and their antecedents. This study also offers useful information, namely the implied risk factors, for future programs of suicide research and prevention.
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