Moving when you’re a kid may increase suicide risk

Moving can mark a new beginning, a fresh start – but according to a new study from the Centre for Mental Health and Safety at the University of Manchester, it could also have potentially harmful consequences for adolescents.

“Moves during adolescence carry biggest risks,” the study found.

Among these were self-directed and interpersonal violence, including attempted suicide and violent criminality, mental illness and substance misuse, as well as premature mortality – both natural and unnatural deaths.

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These findings came after a longterm study of Danish kids born between 1971 and 1997 who were followed from the age of 15 to their early 40s. Of these, 37 per cent had moved at least once before the age of 15, many with multiple moves during their infancy.

“The highest risks were among those people who frequently moved during the early adolescence period, which is 12-14 years of age,” the study found. “Furthermore, each additional move was linked with an incremental risk increase.”

The study showed that multiple moves in any given year resulted in a spike in risk towards violence.

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Researchers also found that it didn’t matter whether families were wealthy or poor.

“Elevated risk due to moving houses was linked to all families equally.”

Currently, suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth in America. Researchers hope that their findings will encourage “heightened vigilance” towards moving around adolescents “with a view to preventing longer-term adverse outcomes in this population."

What do you think of the findings of this study? Did you move during early adolescence? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.