International suicide rates of youth 15 to 24 years of age, Canada and other OECD countries
In OECD countries, suicide rates are higher among young men aged 15 to 24 years than among young women. Japan has the highest suicide rate for both genders at 20.4/100,000 for young men and 9.8/100,000 for young women. Compared to the other OECD countries, Canada has the second highest suicide rate among young men (17/100,000) and the third highest among young women (4.8/100,000).
Implications
National data can hide differences that exist in one country. A new study released by Statistics Canada’s health analysis division found that the suicide rate among children and teens in the Inuit homelands was 30 times that of youth in the rest of Canada between 2004 and 2008. For Inuit boys and young men, the rate was 101.6 /100,000, while the rate among boys and young men in the rest of the population was 6.1/100, 000.1
1Oliver LN, Peters PA, Kohen DE. (2012). “Mortality Rates Among Children and Teenagers Living in Inuit Nunangat, 1994 to 2008.” Available at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2012003/article/11695-eng.pdf. Accessed on June 29, 2012.