Thinking of suicide: understanding the risks associated with child institutional care

Abstract

Suicide is a catastrophe for communities and families as well as for individuals. Policy makers who plan to reduce its likelihood deserve public support. They need to identify people at higher risk and to be aware of factors that can be positively changed. Effective policies should be informed by an understanding of lifetime risks, which includes taking fully into account childhood experiences. But who is at risk of contemplating suicide, and what are the factors that play a part? Here we analyse evidence about one such group ? adults who as children have been in forms of care and, in particular, a children's home, borstal or young offenders unit.