Hopelessness and Suicide among Children and Adolescents in Low and Middle Income countries

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Background

Suicide is potentially preventable, but is a leading cause of death globally among adolescents and young people. Previous research indicates that deaths by suicide outnumber deaths due to homicide and road traffic accidents. For each suicide, there are many more persons with serious suicidal ideation and nonfatal suicide attempts. An accurate understanding of the risk and protective factors of suicide in any given setting is essential before prevention efforts can be successful. Despite evidence of increasing suicide rates in low resource countries, accurate understanding of the risk and protective factors, as well as social determinants, is absent. Present estimates of suicide rates are likely below actual rates due to stigma and legal and bureaucratic factors. Due to geographical variation and the multifactorial nature of suicide risk, it is important to conduct various studies in different settings. However, most of the available evidence is from high income countries and among adult populations. In most low income countries suicide data are either missing or underreported. There is a strong link between hopelessness and suicide and previous research has indicated hopelessness as a serious predictor for suicide.

The aim of this Research Topic is to generate scientific evidence on the prevalence of and risk factors for suicide and hopelessness among children and adolescents in low and middle income countries, as well as to discuss prevention strategies and protective factors. On the back of the evidence generated, it is hoped that context specific prevention strategies and policies will be put in place. The Research Topic seeks to give an opportunity to researchers in low and middle income countries to share their research findings.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions on the following themes:
• Suicide studies conducted among children and adolescents in low and middle income countries. These may address any of the following: completed suicide, suicidal behavior and suicide prevention strategies
• Suicide risk and protective factors among children and adolescents in low and middle income countries
• Suicide risk assessments among children and adolescents

We accept systematic reviews, primary research articles, brief reports and case studies.

Keywords: hopelessness, suicide, children, adolescents, low and middle income

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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