Suicide in young people and its relationship with changes in secondary education in Argentina, 1998-2015

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is the third cause of death in young people, and its incidence in Argentina has increased in 1988- 2008. The comparison of the evolution of the specific suicide rates in the last 25 years shows the psychosocial vulnerability experienced by this population. The objective was to analyze the relationship between suicide in young people between 15 and 24 years of age and the net rate of enrollment in secondary education in Argentina in 1998-2015. METHODS: An ecological time series study was conducted, with correlation analysis using the cross correlation function. RESULTS: A total of 13 795 suicides were identified. The subpopulation with the highest incidence was males aged 20 to 24 years, with an increase of 90.12% at the end of the time series. In males aged 15 to 19 years, the increase in the incidence of suicide was 90.6%. For the population of males aged 15 to 19 years, a correlation was found with a 2-year lag between the suicide mortality rate and the net secondary enrollment rate; the cross correlation function was -0.72. DISCUSSION: There is a correlation between the suicide mortality rate in young people and changes in secondary school enrollment in Argentina in 1998-2015, especially in males aged 15 to 19 years. This supports the hypothesis that the changes in the role of social integrator of formal education in Argentina affect the psychosocial vulnerability of young adults, especially in men.