據美國醫學期刊《兒科》雜志對醫院數據的一項分析顯示，2008年至2015年間，有自殺傾向或嘗試自殺的美國青少年數量急劇增加，特別是女孩的自殺傾向的增長率要遠高于男孩，學齡青少年也更容易出現自殺心理或行為。

該研究稱：“2008至2015年，美國兒童醫院中因自殺傾向和自殺行為被送就醫的人數逐年穩步上升，占所有送醫人數的比例也越來越高。這種趨勢出現在各個年齡段，貫穿了青少年的整個求學階段，并且表現出了明顯的季節模式。”

研究人員利用了醫院的繳費數據來研究這6年間青少年的自殺趨勢。2008年，在美國31家兒童醫院的病人中，有0.66%系因為自殺傾向或行為而被送醫。到2015年，這一比例已上升至1.82%，達到2008年的近3倍。15至17歲美國青少年以及女孩的自殺傾向增長最快。青少年的自殺傾向在春秋兩季最高，夏季則有所下降。

我們現在仍然不知道為什么越來越多的青少年出現自殺自殘傾向。但有證據表明，心理健康問題或許是導致越來越多青少年厭世輕生的重要原因。

The number of young Americans and adolescents contemplating or attempting suicide rose sharply between 2008 and 2015, according to an analysis of hospital data published in the journal Pediatrics. The troubling increase disproportionately affects girls, and suicidal thoughts and attempts are more likely to occur during the school year.

“Encounters for [suicidal ideas and suicide attempts] at U.S. children’s hospitals increased steadily from 2008 to 2015 and accounted for an increasing percentage of all hospital encounters,” wrote the study authors. “Increases were noted across all age groups, with consistent seasonal patterns that persisted over the study period.”

Researchers used hospital billing data to suss out the teen suicide trends over six years. In 2008, 0.66% of hospital visits across 31 children’s hospitals were related to suicide; by 2015, that had risen to 1.82%, a near tripling of the rate. Young Americans aged 15 to 17 experienced the most significant increases, as did girls, and suicidal thoughts and attempts peaked in the spring and fall while declining in the summer.

It’s unclear exactly why more teens are contemplating suicide and self-harm. But the new study adds to evidence that mental health problems are taking a bigger and bigger toll on adolescents.

來自美國疾病控制中心的數據顯示，2015年，在15至19歲的美國青少年中，有1537名男孩自殺，524名女孩自殺，較00年代早期呈顯著增長。自殺一般是美國青少年第三大死因，但2016年已經躍升為第二大死因。（財富中文網）

譯者：樸成奎

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finds that there “were 1,537 suicides among males and 524 among females aged 15–19 years” in 2015, representing a significant increase from the early 2000s. Suicide is typically the third leading cause of death for young Americans, but rose to the second leading cause of death in 2016.