Amy H Cheung1, Carolyn S Dewa. 1. Health Systems Research and Consulting Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Contrary to other developed countries where adolescent suicide rates have declined in the last decade, the rate in Canada has remained unchanged. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Canadian adolescents and poses a serious public health concern. However, there is little epidemiological data examining the rates of suicidality or depression - two factors most closely associated with completed suicides. This study therefore examines the rates of depression and suicidality in adolescents aged 15-18. METHODS: Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 on Mental Health and Well-being, a population-based survey conducted by Statistics Canada, were used to examine the rates of depression and suicidality in adolescents aged 15-18. Lifetime prevalence rates were calculated for depression and suicidality by region for males and females. Multivariate analyses were conducted to test the robustness of these results. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence rates were 7.6% for depression and 13.5% for suicidality. There were significant gender differences for both: 4.3% of males and 11.1% of females had depression, and 8.8% of males and 18.4% of females had suicidality. After adjustment for age, sex and household income, the Maritimes had a lower rate of depression and British Columbia had a higher rate of suicidality relative to Ontario. Youth from low-income households had a higher risk of suicidality. INTERPRETATION: The findings suggest that depression and suicidality are common in adolescents and that females are more likely to be affected. The results also point to regional and socio-economic differences. Future research should examine differences that exist in mental health services provision and access. This will aid in the development of national, regional and local strategies to address the issue of depression and suicidality in Canadian adolescents.
BACKGROUND: Contrary to other developed countries where adolescent suicide rates have declined in the last decade, the rate in Canada has remained unchanged. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Canadian adolescents and poses a serious public health concern. However, there is little epidemiological data examining the rates of suicidality or depression - two factors most closely associated with completed suicides. This study therefore examines the rates of depression and suicidality in adolescents aged 15-18. METHODS: Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 on Mental Health and Well-being, a population-based survey conducted by Statistics Canada, were used to examine the rates of depression and suicidality in adolescents aged 15-18. Lifetime prevalence rates were calculated for depression and suicidality by region for males and females. Multivariate analyses were conducted to test the robustness of these results. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence rates were 7.6% for depression and 13.5% for suicidality. There were significant gender differences for both: 4.3% of males and 11.1% of females had depression, and 8.8% of males and 18.4% of females had suicidality. After adjustment for age, sex and household income, the Maritimes had a lower rate of depression and British Columbia had a higher rate of suicidality relative to Ontario. Youth from low-income households had a higher risk of suicidality. INTERPRETATION: The findings suggest that depression and suicidality are common in adolescents and that females are more likely to be affected. The results also point to regional and socio-economic differences. Future research should examine differences that exist in mental health services provision and access. This will aid in the development of national, regional and local strategies to address the issue of depression and suicidality in Canadian adolescents.
Authors: P J Leaf; M Alegria; P Cohen; S H Goodman; S M Horwitz; C W Hoven; W E Narrow; M Vaden-Kiernan; D A Regier Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 1996-07 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Scott B Patten; Jian Li Wang; Jeanne V A Williams; Shawn Currie; Cynthia A Beck; Colleen J Maxwell; Nady El-Guebaly Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2006-02 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: David Shaffer; Michelle Scott; Holly Wilcox; Carey Maslow; Roger Hicks; Christopher P Lucas; Robin Garfinkel; Steven Greenwald Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Natalie Mota; Brenda Elias; Bruce Tefft; Maria Medved; Garry Munro; Jitender Sareen Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2012-01-19 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Kaja Z LeWinn; Colm G Connolly; Jing Wu; Miroslav Drahos; Fumiko Hoeft; Tiffany C Ho; Alan N Simmons; Tony T Yang Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2014-06-04 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: Eduardo Chachamovich; Laurence J Kirmayer; John M Haggarty; Margaret Cargo; Rod Mccormick; Gustavo Turecki Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2015-06 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: Mark E Lemstra; Marla R Rogers; Adam T Thompson; Lauren Redgate; Meghan Garner; Raymond Tempier; John S Moraros Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2011 Jul-Aug
Authors: Mark Lemstra; Cory Neudorf; Johan Mackenbach; Carl D'Arcy; Christina Scott; Tanis Kershaw; Ushasri Nannapaneni Journal: Paediatr Child Health Date: 2008-04 Impact factor: 2.253
Authors: Steven Cook; Hayley A Hamilton; Shirin Montazer; Luke Sloan; Christine M Wickens; Amy Cheung; Angela Boak; Nigel E Turner; Robert E Mann Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2021-01-28 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: Darren B Courtney; Amy Cheung; Joanna Henderson; Kathryn Bennett; Marco Battaglia; John Strauss; Rachel Mitchell; Karen Wang; Peter Szatmari Journal: J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2019-11-01