Suicide in subjects under the age of 30: a retrospective analysis

Suicide represents one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Rates seem to be decreasing, but we are still far from a desirable reduction of the phenomenon. Data on younger members of the population, seasonal variability, and changes in the post-pandemic period are still limited. The purpose of the study was to assess the incidence and characteristics of suicides in individuals under the age of 30 who underwent autopsy in a metropolitan area. Autopsy cases from the last 32 years were analysed considering age, sex, date of death, method of suicide, cause of death, presence of mental disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, previous suicide attempts and previously expressed suicidal intention. There were 699 cases of suicide, of which 9.3% were minors. Violent methods were the most used, consistent with their easy availability and effectiveness. Considering seasonality, the frequency of cases in January, June and December was significantly higher than the average. Although an increase in cases is observed in the years immediately following the pandemic, no lasting differences have been observed.