One in 12 teens aged 15-19 have attempted suicide

The survey shows that, in general, girls were 'significantly more likely' than boys to report all negative outcomes.

One in 12 Irish teenagers aged 15-19 have attempted suicide in their lifetime, while more than a 10th have repeatedly self-harmed, a new report has found.

Self-harm rates are particularly on the rise among teenage girls, with an especially “worrying” rise also seen among trans and gender-diverse teenagers, as well as early school leavers.

Royal College of Surgeons Ireland's University of Medicine and Health Sciences and King’s College London analysed data gathered from more than 20,000 students aged 15-19 by the Planet Youth Survey between 2018-2023. The participants were from 113 schools in six counties across Ireland.

They did find that teens do not have the same poor mental health in recent years than they did during the pandemic. The researchers said rates have "largely recovered" now.

However, their research did lead them to conclude that: “Our study shows that in a typical classroom of 25 senior-cycle students, five will report poor mental health, three will have self-harmed multiple times, and two will have attempted suicide at some point in their life."

The study is the largest investigation of teen mental health problems since 2019. 

It shows that, in general, girls were “significantly more likely” than boys to report all negative outcomes.

Some 11.1% of all teens reported self-harming in the two years after the pandemic compared to 9.7% during those years.

One in 12 reported having attempted suicide in their lifetime, and one in five reported poor mental health.

Trans and gender-diverse young people reported the highest rates of poor mental health at 52%, as well as for repetitive self-harm, at 44%, and suicide attempts, at 23%.

'It’s really hard to hear'

Professor Mary Cannon, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health at RCSI, described some findings as worrying.

“The worrying thing was that some rates have continued to go up over time in those cohorts of mainly transition year students,” she said.

“What we’re finding is, over time, young people are more likely to report they are self-harming. It’s really hard to hear that.” 

This is seen in other countries, but it is the first time it has been identified here, she added.

“It’s very valuable data, and hopefully the Government or the HSE can take this and look at it and say: ‘We need to move on this’,” she said.

The study is in the Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology journal.