Suicidal Ideation – Trends and risk groups in Luxembourg

Background: Suicide is a main cause of death among young people worldwide and adolescence is the period with the highest risk of developing suicidal ideation.

Objective(s): Trends of suicidal ideation over time and identification of groups at risk in Luxembourg.

Method: Secondary school students were asked the questions from the Optional Package “Suicidal ideation and behaviour” in the Luxembourgish HBSC survey 2006 (N = 6581), 2010 (N = 7192), and 2014 (N = 5599). Data were analysed using SPSS complex samples and logistic regressions.

Results: 15.9% of the students considered suicide in 2006, 12.7% in 2010 and 15.2% in 2014. Girls were more likely to consider suicide than boys. Family affluence, family structure, schooltype, age, bullying and other variables predicted suicidal ideation and behaviour, too.

Conclusions: Despite a decrease of considered suicide in 2010, suicidal ideation and behaviour did not change between 2006 and 2014. Thus, prevention programmes are important.