BACKGROUND Limited research exists on suicide among children aged 5 to 9 years. The objective of this study was to examine characteristics of suicide in children younger than 10 years. METHODS Data are from the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System (NFR-CRS) for years 2006 through 2021 for children aged 6 to 9 years who died by suicide. No suicide deaths were reported in NFR-CRS for children aged ≤ 5 years. Descriptive analyses by demographics and circumstances were conducted. A thematic analysis of prevention recommendations made by child death review teams was performed. RESULTS From 2006 to 2021, NFR-CRS identified 78 suicide decedents aged 6 to 9 years. The largest share were aged 9 years (72%), male (74%), non-Hispanic Black (42%), and died by hanging (86%) at home (91%). School-related problems (39%), history of child maltreatment (36%), history of mental health services (30%), argument with parents (23%), and familial discord (19%) were common circumstances. Key suicide prevention themes included education for caregivers and school staff, improved behavioral health services, and implementation of school policies and programs. CONCLUSIONS Results provide a more complete picture of suicide among younger children, improving understanding of their unique characteristics. It is recommended that program planners consider both age-appropriateness and the impacts of social (eg, racism) and structural inequities in their approaches to prevention, encompassing both community and school-based strategies. For pediatricians, results emphasize the importance of lethal means counseling, safety planning, and educating parents and caregivers on the distinct warning signs of suicide for younger children.

中文翻译：

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6 至 9 岁儿童自杀的特征和情况：2006-2021 年。


背景 关于 5 至 9 岁儿童自杀的研究有限。本研究的目的是检查 10 岁以下儿童的自杀特征。方法 数据来自 2006 年至 2021 年的国家死亡审查病例报告系统 （NFR-CRS），用于 6 至 9 岁自杀死亡的儿童。NFR-CRS 中没有 5 岁儿童≤自杀死亡报告。按人口统计学和环境进行了描述性分析。对儿童死亡审查小组提出的预防建议进行了主题分析。结果 从 2006 年到 2021 年，NFR-CRS 确定了 78 名年龄在 6 至 9 岁之间的自杀死者。最大的比例是 9 岁 （72%）、男性 （74%）、非西班牙裔黑人 （42%） 和在家中上吊死亡 （86%） （91%）。与学校相关的问题 （39%）、虐待儿童的历史 （36%）、心理健康服务的历史 （30%）、与父母的争吵 （23%） 和家庭不和 （19%） 是常见情况。关键的自杀预防主题包括对看护人和学校工作人员的教育、改善行为健康服务以及实施学校政策和计划。结论 结果提供了更完整的年幼儿童自杀情况，提高了对他们独特特征的理解。建议项目规划者在他们的预防方法中同时考虑年龄适宜性以及社会（例如，种族主义）和结构性不平等的影响，包括基于社区和学校的策略。对于儿科医生来说，结果强调了致命手段咨询、安全计划以及教育父母和看护人了解年幼儿童自杀的不同警告信号的重要性。