THE IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD: FACTORS THAT MAY PREDICT THE RISK OF SUICIDE ATTEMPT

A 15-year study identifies childhood factors associated with the risk of suicide attempt and highlights the importance of early prevention.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults; therefore, identifying which factors may increase the risk is essential for prevention.

A recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas conducted a 15-year follow-up of 2,060 Brazilian participants to assess developmental factors associated with suicide attempts from childhood (aged 6 to 14) through to early adulthood (aged 23). The results show that 15 per cent of the participants had made at least one suicide attempt before the age of 23.

Furthermore, the study identified four childhood predictors associated with the risk of suicide attempts: female gender, exposure to bullying or physical abuse, a history of suicide attempts among parents — which doubled the risk — and the presence of externalising disorders, characterised by emotional and behavioural difficulties that manifest externally through behaviours such as aggression, impulsivity or disobedience (such as ADHD).

In this regard, one of the key findings is that, although the childhood experiences outlined above may indicate greater vulnerability, these factors do not allow us to predict with precision which specific individual will attempt suicide.

Therefore, prevention should not focus solely on identifying those at high risk, but also on improving the living conditions and well-being of children. Relevant preventive measures include tackling bullying at school, facilitating families’ access to psychological support, and providing early intervention for emotional and behavioural difficulties. These strategies, combined with appropriate clinical care, can help to reduce risk factors and foster safer environments.

Reference to original work:

Damiano, R. F., Low, D. M., Ito, L. T., Santoro, M. L., Belangero, S., Pan, P. M., Casella, C., Schäfer, J. L., Uher, R., Szatmari, P., Bryan, C. J., Blumberg, H. P., Miguel, E. C., Rohde, L. A., & Salum, G. A. (2026). Developmental predictors of suicide attempts from childhood to early adulthood: a 15-year prospective cohort study. Lancet regional health. Americas, 61, 101531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2026.101531