Intercountry adoptee suicide: Research and data collection is urgently required to inform post adoption services.

Abstract

Organisations that work with and support intercountry adoptees around the world identify death by suicide and non-fatal suicide attempts as an important and neglected area of concern.15 A literature review on this topic highlighted how few studies have been conducted on incidence, protective factors, interventions, and prevention strategies on suicide and intercountry adoption. Studies that do examine incidence using existing databases,for example, in the Nordic countries or U.S. State initiatives, are older and/or tend to focus on assumed biological determinants. National data systems typically collect information on vulnerable groups such as youth and Indigenous People. So far, no country has included intercountry adoptees as a vulnerable group in suicide and self-harm national data collection.