The number of suicide deaths among young people in B.C. has remained relatively unchanged over the past several years, but the lead on a new report says little progress has been made in terms of recognizing and reducing the risks.
"But I want to be careful to caution that the number of deaths should not be correlated with the state of mental health in B.C.," suicide death-review panel chair Ryan Panton said during a news conference Victoria Wednesday (Oct. 15).
"This is a very trying time to be young in this province, and so while the numbers, the mortality data, don't show an increase, this is something that we need to continue to be aware of and to keep our finger on."
Panton was presenting the B.C. Coroners Service's new report, which reviewed suicide deaths among young people in B.C. between 2019 and 2023. The report also included five recommendations on how to possibly prevent the deaths and better support young people in B.C.
Recommendations include creating and implementing a provincial suicide risk-reduction framework, specifically focused on children, teens and young adults, as well as improving data collection, information sharing and reporting processes to better understand and support communities throughout B.C.
The three other recommendations are: reviewing existing social and emotional health-related resources to ensure they meet the needs of the diversity of school-age students; creating an educational model to ensure doctors, nurses, paramedics and other emergency medical professionals are appropriately trained in early identification, assessment, management and follow-up of those at risk of suicide; and co-developing a "third spaces" strategy to create places for young people to develop and maintain connections in their own communities.
The report looked at deaths by suicide between Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2023. During that time, there were 435 reported suicide deaths of young people in B.C.
The B.C. Coroners Service says suicide is the second-most prevalent cause of death among children and teens in the province, and the third-leading cause of death among adults aged 19 to 29 years.
The report found there was an average of 22 deaths per year for people aged nine to 18, and 65 deaths annually among those aged 19 to 25. Panton said that rate remained consistent over the five-year review period.
Seventeen per cent of those who died were First Nations, Métis or Inuit. Panton added the rate of death among First Nations, Métis and Inuit children, teens and young adults is four times higher than the provincial rate.
"(It's) a fact inextricably linked to colonialization and the multi-generational trauma, racism and discrimination brought to bear by the residential school system and other such structures."
There were also higher rates of death in the Northern and Island health regions.
Panton also said that 44 per cent of those who died had a history of self harm, while another 50 per cent were involved in with the Ministry of Children and Family Development within the year preceding their death. Another 21 per cent had experienced a mental health or suicide-related hospitalization in the year prior to their death, as well.
He added that 58 per cent had documented anxiety and mood disorders, 22 per cent had substance-use disorders, eight per cent had schizophrenia and delusional disorders and 46 per cent had a prescription medication for an anti-depressant, anti-psychotic, anti-epileptic, benzodiazepine or stimulant in the year prior to their death.
Panton, however, noted that being Indigenous, gender-diverse or living outside of B.C.'s urban sectors is not a risk factor for suicide, but instead poses challenges for getting supports for the risks they encounter.
