Trends in suicide rates and methods among children and youth compared to adults in Spain: A register-based study, 2000–2023

• Suicide rates in children under 15 have increased significantly since 2011. • Defenestration is the leading suicide method among children, with a rising trend. • Among youth (15–29), suicide rates rose in females after 2010. • Use of non-violent methods increased in both youth and adults in recent years. • Age- and sex-specific trends call for targeted suicide prevention strategies. Suicide is a leading cause of mortality among young people. This study examined temporal trends in suicide rates and methods among individuals under 30 years in Spain between 2000 and 2023, compared with adults. A time-series analysis of population-level suicide indicators based on data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute. A total of 85,299 suicides were classified by age group (<15, 15–29, ≥30 years), sex, and method. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate trends. Annual Percent Change (APC) represents change within segments, whereas Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) summarizes the overall period. Among those under 15, rates increased from 2011 onward (APC = 12.1%; 95% CI: 1.6 to 75.9), with defenestration the predominant method (41.7%) and showing a marked upward trend (AAPC = 25.4%; 95% CI: 10.2 to 42.5). In individuals aged 15–29, rates declined among males between 2000 and 2010 but increased among females from 2010 (APC = 4.5%; 95% CI: 1.7 to 17.6); and non-violent methods (poisoning or drug overdose) also became more frequent. In adults aged ≥30, overall rates were relatively stable, although non-violent methods increased from 2018 (APC = 8.1%; 95% CI: 2.0 to 23.6). Although these estimates should be interpreted cautiously given the small number of events, the results indicate a recent increase in suicides among children under 15 and young women, as well as age- and sex-specific changes in the methods used. Defenestration and the use of non-violent methods showed increases among younger population groups.