Die Entwicklung der Suizidzahlen von Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland von 2005 bis 2023

An analysis of suicide progression figures can provide indications of the influencing (suicide-prevention) factors and therefore represents a relevant health policy task. Suicide-prevention factors can be effective depending on age and gender. For this reason, suicide rates should be analyzed separately by gender and age range. Before the impact of the corona pandemic, suicide figures in Germany were at an all-time low. From a child and adolescent psychiatric and psychotherapeutic perspective, the question arises as to whether the decline in numbers - and thus the effectiveness of suicide-prevention efforts - also relates to childhood and adolescence. We calculated joinpoint regressions to analyze possible trends and significant trend changes in the development of suicide rates over time. There was a decline in suicide rates of older male adolescents from 2005 to 2023. For older female adolescents, on the other hand, there is an overall increase in suicide rates, significant trend changes, and a significant increase in suicide rates even before the corona pandemic. The rise in suicide rates among females is also evident in younger female adolescents. In contrast, there is no significant trend among younger male adolescents. The suicide progression figures illustrate the need for gender- and age-specific analyses. We present the implications of these findings for suicide prevention in childhood and adolescence.