Youth in crisis: comparative geographies of suicide between Argentina, Chile, Spain and Uruguay

Abstract Introduction National trends in youth suicide risk may mask significant regional variations within a country. This article attempts to account for spatio-temporal trends through a comparative analysis across South America and Europe. This paper analyzes the spatiotemporal patterns in suicide mortality among young people (10-29 years) in Argentina, Chile, Spain, and Uruguay during the period 1997-2021. Methods Official data from vital statistics and population censuses of the four countries were analyzed. Spatiotemporal clusters were detected using Poisson-based scan statistics. Sociodemographic characteristics of high-and low-mortality clusters were compared with the rest of each country using Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon tests. Results With the exception of Chile, each country showed the emergence of spatiotemporal suicide clusters extending through 2021. Indicators of social fragmentation and lower socioeconomic status were most consistently associated with the formation of high-risk youth suicide clusters. Conclusion Recent national increases in youth suicide rates appear to be concentrated in specific sub-national regions, underscoring the need to target resources toward improving living conditions and mental healthcare access for young people in these areas.