A Case Report: Attempted Suicide and Suicidal Behavior in an 8 Years Old Child

In most of the countries suicide is one of the ten leading causes of death and for young people it is the second most common cause. But in children suicide is rare and associated with severe personal and social problems. A useful definition of suicidal behavior in children developed by Pfeiffer is “Any self-destructive behavior that has intent to seriously damage oneself or cause death (1986)”. The thought of a child dying by suicide challenges the ideals we hold about how our children grow and develop at their own home and society. It also raises considerations about children’s understandings of death and their capacity to have the intent to suicide. The relationship between psychiatric disorders and adolescent suicide is now well established. Mood disorders, substance abuse, conduct disorder and prior suicide attempts are strongly related with youth and child suicides. Factors related to family adversity, style of parenting and child rearing, recent socio-cultural transition and other precipitating problems also contribute to the risk of suicide. The main target of effective prevention of child and youth suicide is to reduce suicide risk factors. Recognition and effective treatment of psychiatric disorders, e.g. depression, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorders are essential in preventing child and adolescent suicides. In the treatment of youth depression, psychosocial treatments have proved to be useful and efficacious. Here we have described about the case of a 08 year old boy, presenting with restlessness, impulsiveness, multiple threats and one episode of attempted suicide following refusal to watch TV by parents.