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By Ashley Legassic

MENTAL HEALTH

BC Coroners Service emphasizes treatment, outreach to prevent child and youth suicides

Aug 15, 2019 | 11:37 AM

VICTORIA — Expanding youth mental health services to non-urban areas is one of the key recommendations put forward by the BC Coroners Service to help prevent child and youth suicides.

In a new report, the Coroners Service recommends providing young people with the everyday tools and skills to support mental well-being and ensuring health professionals have clear and accessible mental health practice and treatment.

A death review panel into child and youth suicides came up with the recommendations, which also include putting a focus on mental health in schools and identifying best practice for youth mental health guidelines.

Suicide Risk Factors:
Lack of support networks, weak family and peer relationships
Feelings of social isolation
Living in conditions of family disfunction or discord
Alcohol and substance use
Mental health disorders
Adverse childhood events
Stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health
_{– Smith, Forsyth, Poon, Peled, Saewyc, & McCreary Centre Society, 2019}

Between 2013 and 2018, more than 100 children or youth died by suicide in the province.

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The review found that although suicide risk factors are understood, predicting suicides is difficult.

Psychiatric medication prescribing guidelines for children and youth were not readily accessible for all health professionals, the report says, and barriers existed for families to successfully engage with or access services.

“There is a need for timely access to mental health supports and services, particularly in non-urban areas,” the report states.

The death review panel included 19 experts with backgrounds in youth services, child welfare, mental health, addictions, medicine, nursing, public health, Indigenous health, injury prevention, education, income support, law enforcement and health research.

“Suicide is the leading cause of injury-related death among children and youth in B.C.,” panel chair Michael Egilson said. “Almost 70 per cent of serious mental health issues emerge before the age of 25. Programs directed at children in schools and best practice guidelines for healthcare providers providing diagnosis and services are important in preventing these deaths.”