EPIDEMIOLOGY AND METHODS USED IN SUICIDE IN YOUNG PEOPLE: A DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH

Abstract

 Objective: to analyze data on suicides in young people in the last 5 years in Paraíba. Methodology: descriptive and retrospective documentary study, involving a sample with data from 2019 to 2023 and aged between 11 and 17 years. Results: show a male predominance with 35 victims and an average age of 15 years. Among women, there were 14 victims with an average age of 14 years. We observed a higher incidence of suicides in the months of November and August, with 7 deaths in both, while in March we have a lower incidence, with only 1 death. When we refer to location we see João Pessoa being responsible for 24.5% of deaths, followed by Campina Grande with 14.3%. A very important fact is related to the age group that we observed that most deaths occur between the ages of 14 and 17. Furthermore, we found that the highest levels of suicide occurred in 2021 and 2022 and can be attributed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, we have suicide methods, where we investigated that hanging was responsible for around 65.3%, followed by 20.4% by poisoning, 8.2% by firearm and 6.1% by precipitation. Conclusion: suicide in young people is extremely important and little discussed, thus requiring greater attention from our competent authorities, thus preventing the numbers from rising further.