Young people, gender and suicide: A review of research on the social context

Summary: The paper reviews some recent research on the social context of suicide in young people, with particular reference to evidence about the gendered character of suicidal behaviour. Some implications for social work and social policy are discussed. Findings: Key messages from the research reviewed are presented in relation to some specific social domains. These are employment, social cohesion and social comparison, mental illness, family and relationships, sexual orientation and help-seeking. Applications: This review is especially of use to those in the social work field who are not familiar with the large body of research on the social context of youth suicide in the medical and psychological literature. There is some discussion in the article of the implications of this research for suicide prevention, both in terms of policy and in terms of the practices of individual social workers