Peer-reviewed medical journal Vol. 11 • Issue 3

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American Journal of Medical and Clinical Sciences

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Volume 11

Issue 3 • 2026-06

1.387 Impact factor
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Article details

Silent Cry: A Comprehensive Review of Child and Adolescent Suicides – Risk Dynamics, Epidemiology, and Prevention Approaches

Kenan Kaya

Abstract

Child and adolescent suicides represent a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that has become increasingly visible in both clinical psychiatry and public health on a global scale. This phenomenon cannot be adequately explained solely through individual psychopathology, as it emerges from the interaction of biological, psychological, social, cultural, and digital factors. According to the World Health Organization [2], suicide is among the leading causes of death, particularly during adolescence.

This comprehensive review examines child and adolescent suicides within the frameworks of developmental psychology, psychopathology, sociology, and digital media influences. It systematically explores risk factors and protective factors, as well as media-related behavioral contagion and prevention mechanisms such as the Werther effect and Papageno effect. Additionally, it critically evaluates online grooming processes, migration-related stressors, trauma exposure, and intra-family abuse dynamics as multidimensional risk domains.