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Risk of suicide following school persistent absence and exclusion: an electronic cohort study in Wales, UK 2012–2019
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Marcos del Pozo Banos ,
Olivier Rouquette,
Ann John
Journal of Affective Disorders, Volume: 385, Issue: 119394, Start page: 119394
Swansea University Authors:
Margaret Diogu, Sze Chim Lee , Marcos del Pozo Banos , Olivier Rouquette, Ann John
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.jad.2025.119394
Abstract
BackgroundEvidence of the negative impact of school absence and exclusion on children and young people's life trajectories has been growing but relevant population-based studies including suicide adjusted for history of mental health conditions are scarce. We aimed to examine the associations b...
| Published in: | Journal of Affective Disorders |
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| ISSN: | 0165-0327 |
| Published: |
Elsevier B.V.
Elsevier BV
2025
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69492 |
| Abstract: |
BackgroundEvidence of the negative impact of school absence and exclusion on children and young people's life trajectories has been growing but relevant population-based studies including suicide adjusted for history of mental health conditions are scarce. We aimed to examine the associations between suicide and school absence and exclusion.MethodsWe linked routinely collected electronic education and health data for pupils in Wales, UK during 2012/13–2018/19 school years. We identified pupils who were persistently absent or excluded from school and followed them up to identify suicide deaths to 31/12/2021. Firth logistic regression was used to evaluate adjusted odd ratios (aORs) of suicide mortality.ResultsRespectively, 8.6 % and 4.3 % of pupils (N = 584,394) had records of persistent absence and exclusion from school. 123 pupils died by suicide in the cohort (21.0 per 100,000 persons). Adjusted odds ratios for suicide were 2.3 (95 % CI: 1.5–3.7) following exclusion but non- significant for persistent absence (1.0; 95 % CI: 0.6–1.7). Other indicators for suicide were male sex, age ≥ 10 years, history of self-harm, high levels mental health comorbidity, autistic spectrum disorders and drug use.LimitationsRelatively low numbers of suicide deaths reduced statistical power. There was no stratification of absence and exclusions into categories based on their nature or causes.ConclusionsLong-term strategies to support those excluded from school, addressing their social, emotional and medical, needs should be implemented given their heightened risk of future suicide. Attendance data, routinely collected by schools, has potential to be developed as an indicator of unmet need. |
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| Keywords: |
Absence; Attendance; Data linkage; Exclusion; School pupil; Suicide |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This work was supported by the Adolescent Mental Health Data Platform (ADP) and the Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health (Grant number 517483). The ADP is funded by MQ Mental Health Research Charity (Grant Reference MQBF/3 ADP). Also funded by the National Centre for Mental Health, NCMH (Grant reference; CA04). The views expressed are entirely those of the authors and should not be assumed to be the same as those of ADP, NCMH or MQ Mental Health Research Charity. |
| Issue: |
119394 |
| Start Page: |
119394 |