‘High Risk’ Adolescents Five Years On: The Subsequent Suicide and Homicide of former ‘Looked-After’ and ‘Exclusion Unit’ Adolescents (11–15)

ABSTRACT

It is acknowledged that adolescents [11-15] who either spend time in ‘Exclusion Units’ and are ‘Looked-After’ by the Local Authority are at high risk for a range of psychosocial pathologies. An analysis of Police records and a Suicide Register of 6-year cohorts of former ‘Looked-After’ ‘Excluded-from-School’ adolescents [n = 814 and 227] revealed some surprising findings in relation to subsequent suicide and homicide as young adults [15–25]. There were no female suicides or murderers in either group [n = 376 and 12 respectively], nor were there any suicides amongst the male ‘Looked-After’ group [n = 438]. The use of an epidemiological approach to analyse the one male murderer, who also belonged to the ‘Exclusion-Unit’ group, yielded an annual homicide rate of 45.7 per 100,000 [pht] p.a. in contrast to the national male [15–24] rate of 1.1 pht.

However, there were two suicides and two further homicides amongst the male ‘Exclusion-Unit’ group [n = 215], equivalent to rates of 186.1 pht p.a. respectively, compared to the male county suicide rate of 10.5 pht and 1.14 pht for murder. This was significantly different from the former ‘Looked-After’ young adults.

Thus the ‘Exclusion Unit’ suicide and homicide rates were 17 and 163 times the respective general population rates.

This interim study emphasises the particular vulnerability of former ‘Exclusion-Unit’ youth, who unlike the ex ‘Looked-After’ young adults, they have no statutory right to support or supervision after leaving school. The study points towards the need for further analysis and re-considering post discharge ‘exclusion unit’ policy.