Appunti di Neuropsichiatria
Il ruolo del pediatra nella prevenzione del suicidio in adolescenza
The paediatrician’s role in suicide prevention in adolescence
Chiara Davico1, Francesca Di Franco1, Elena Lonardelli1, Claudia Bondone2, Benedetto Vitiello1
1SC di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Dipartimento di Scienze della Sanità Pubblica e Pediatriche, Università di Torino
2SC di Pediatria d’Urgenza, AOU “Città della Salute e della Scienza”, Torino
Ottobre 2023 - pagg. 509 -514 | DOI: 10.53126/MEB42509
Abstract
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Italy in young people between the ages of 15 and 29. Mental health problems are increasing among children and adolescents. Very often paediatricians have to manage young patients with psychiatric problems who express their psychopathology in new ways and they may feel unprepared in this respect. This article describes the phenomenon of suicide and suicidality in adolescence with particular attention to risk and protective factors. Approaches to suicide prevention are reviewed focusing on the role that the paediatrician can play in the chain of prevention (e.g. by educating the family to be attentive to possible mental health problems, reducing stigma of mental illness and identifying youth at high risk with timely referral to specialised services for further evaluation and treatment). Indeed, the scientific literature suggests that talking to adolescents about suicide in a health assessment context does not increase the risk of suicide but, in contrast, can be protective as it allows young people to verbalize and share their sufferings thus facilitating their access to appropriate help.
Riassunto
Il suicidio è la seconda causa di morte in Italia nei giovani di età compresa tra 15 e 29 anni. A fronte dell’aumento dei disturbi psichici in età infantile e adolescenziale cui stiamo assistendo il pediatra si trova a interfacciarsi molto più frequentemente con ragazzi con importante sofferenza psichica e con nuove modalità di espressione della psicopatologia rispetto alle quali può sentirsi inadeguato. Questo articolo si propone di descrivere il fenomeno del suicidio e della suicidalità in adolescenza con particolare attenzione ai fattori di rischio, ai fattori protettivi e ai principi di prevenzione riportati dalla letteratura scientifica, focalizzandosi poi sul ruolo che il pediatra può rivestire nella catena della prevenzione, sia in senso di opportunità di educazione della famiglia a una sensibilità verso le problematiche di salute mentale e riduzione dello stigma sia nella intercettazione precoce di ragazzi a rischio con invio tempestivo ai servizi specializzati per la presa in carico e la cura. La letteratura scientifica suggerisce infatti che parlare di suicidio ad adolescenti in un contesto di valutazione sanitaria non aumenta il rischio suicidario, ma, al contrario, risulta protettivo e permette ai giovani di poter mettere in parole e condividere la sofferenza e rende possibile l’accesso a percorsi di aiuto.
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