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Observational Study
. 2014 Dec;59(12):632-8.
doi: 10.1177/070674371405901204.

An observational study of bullying as a contributing factor in youth suicide in Toronto

Mark Sinyor, Ayal Schaffer, Amy H Cheung
Observational Study

An observational study of bullying as a contributing factor in youth suicide in Toronto

Mark Sinyor et al. Can J Psychiatry. 2014 Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: Bullying has been identified as a potential contributing factor in youth suicide. This issue has been highlighted in recent widely publicized media reports, worldwide, in which deceased youth were bullied. We report on an observational study conducted to determine the frequency of bullying as a contributing factor to youth suicide.

Method: Coroner records were reviewed for all suicide deaths in youth aged between 10 and 19 in the city of Toronto from 1998 to 2011. Data abstracted were recent stressors (including bullying), clinical variables, such as the presence of mental illness, demographics, and methods of suicide.

Results: Ninety-four youth suicides were included in the study. The mean age was 16.8 years, and 70.2% were male. Bullying was present in 6 deaths (6.4%), and there were no deaths where online or cyberbullying was detected. Bullying was the only identified contributing factor in fewer than 5 deaths. The most common stressors identified were conflict with parents (21.3%), romantic partner problems (17.0%), academic problems (10.6%), and criminal and (or) legal problems (10.6%). Any stressor or mental and (or) physical illness was detected in 78.7% of cases. Depression was detected in 40.4% of cases.

Conclusions: Our study highlights the need to view suicide in youth as arising from a complex interplay of various biological, psychological, and social factors of which bullying is only one. It challenges simple cause-and-effect models that may suggest that suicide arises from anyone factor, such as bullying.

Objectif :: L’intimidation a été identifiée comme étant un facteur contributif potentiel du suicide chez les adolescents. Cette question a été mise en évidence dans de récents reportages des médias largement publicisés, dans le monde entier, dans lesquels des jeunes décédés avaient été intimidés. Nous rendons compte d’une étude d’observation menée afin de déterminer la fréquence de l’intimidation comme facteur contributif du suicide chez les adolescents

Méthode :: Les dossiers du coroner ont été examinés pour tous les décès par suicide chez les adolescents entre 10 et 19 ans dans la ville de Toronto, de 1998 à 2011. Les données extraites étaient des stresseurs récents (dont l’intimidation), des variables cliniques, comme la présence de maladie mentale, des données démographiques, et les méthodes de suicide.

Résultats :: Quatre-vingt-quatorze suicides d’adolescents ont été inclus dans l’étude. L’âge moyen était de 16,8 ans et 70,2 % étaient des garçons. L’intimidation était présente dans 6 décès (6,4 %), et il n’y avait pas de décès où la cyber-intimidation ou l’intimidation en ligne était détectée. L’intimidation était le seul facteur contributif identifié dans moins de 5 décès. Les stresseurs les plus communs identifiés étaient le conflit avec les parents (21,3 %), les problèmes avec un partenaire sexuel (17,0%), les problèmes scolaires (10,6 %), et les problèmes criminels et (ou) juridiques (10,6 %). Un stresseur ou une maladie mentale et (ou) physique était détecté dans 78,7 % des cas. La dépression a été détectée dans 40,4% des cas.

Conclusions :: Notre étude fait ressortir le besoin de voir que le suicide chez les adolescents découle d’une interaction complexe entre divers facteurs biologiques, psychologiques et sociaux, et l’intimidation n’est qu’un de ceux-là. Cela remet en question les modèles simples de cause à effet qui peuvent suggérer que le suicide est attribuable à un facteur unique, comme l’intimidation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Potential contributing factors identified in 74 youth suicide deaths in Toronto a Stressors identified in fewer than 5 cases combined into Other stressors CAS = Children’s Aid Society
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pattern of illness and stressor(s) identified in 94 youth suicide deaths in Toronto a 1 mental illness and 1 stressor (n = 13); 1 mental illness and multiple stressors (n = 9); multiple mental illnesses and 1 stressor (n = 5); multiple mental illnesses and multiple stressors (n = 6) b 1 stressor (n = 16); multiple stressors (n = 9) c 1 mental and (or) physical illness (n = 10); multiple mental and (or) physical illnesses (n = 8)
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