LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To highlight the problem of child suicide, summarize what is known and not known about the problem in the empirical literature, and provide recommendations with ethical considerations for future research and practice. METHOD The development of this paper was informed by a meeting of national experts on the topic hosted by the National Institute of Mental Health, as well as by a review of the empirical literature. RESULTS We know some about demographic characteristics that are related to higher child suicide rates, but beyond that we know relatively little about risk factors, prevention and intervention for suicide risk in children younger than 12 years. It is important for child suicide researchers and practitioners to pay particular attention to ethical issues that may be likely to arise in doing this type of work. CONCLUSION Much more research is needed on child suicide in the areas of measurement, prevention and intervention in order to advance the field and provide practitioners with the tools they critically need.