英國高校學生在單一學年內疑似自殺死亡的特徵：一項全國性回顧性病例系列研究

Characteristics of higher-education students in England who died by suspected suicide in a single academic year: a national retrospective case series study

——《柳葉刀-精神病學》第13卷第8期，2026年8月——

<The Lancet / Psychiatry>, Volume 13, Issue 8, August 2026

【摘要】背景：青少年自殺問題是全球關注的重點，而在教育領域加強心理健康支持則是英國自殺預防戰略的核心。目前，針對全國範圍內因自殺身亡的高等教育學生之個人特徵進行詳細研究的文獻尚不多見。本研究旨在描述疑似學生自殺案例的個人及所在院校特徵、學生與支持服務的接觸情況，以及相關院校對嚴重事件調查行業指導意見的遵循情況。方法：本研究採用全國性病例系列設計，識別了2023–24學年（2023年8月1日至2024年7月31日）期間高等教育學生中的疑似自殺死亡案例。研究人員從英國各高等教育機構獲取了經脫敏處理的嚴重事件報告，並利用一份與逝者家屬、行業組織及慈善機構共同制定的結構化表格系統地提取了數據。此外，研究還評估了這些嚴重事件報告對國家指導意見的遵循程度。結果：英國各高等教育機構報告了2023–24學年期間發生的107例疑似自殺死亡事件。其中86例完成了嚴重事件報告，研究人員最終從50所院校獲取了79份報告。在有相關數據的70名逝者中，大多數為男性（50人 [71%] 為男性，18人 [26%] 為女性）。在已知年齡的案例中（n=24），平均年齡為23.9歲（標準差7.0；範圍19–47歲）。大多數學生的種族信息未知（79人中有70人 [89%]）。大多數逝者為本科生（63人中有45人 [71%]），且居住地遠離家鄉（61人中有44人 [72%]）。在有相關數據的50例死亡事件中，有11例（22%）發生在由大學管理或私人管理的各類學生宿舍內。有6份報告顯示存在潛在的自殺聚集現象。在死亡前報告的最常見特徵包括心理健康問題（73人中的45人 [62%]）、學業問題（73人中的38人 [52%]）和神經多樣性特徵（73人中的30人 [41%]）；這些問題往往伴隨着人際關係問題（73人中的24人 [33%]）、自殘行為（73人中的16人 [22%]）、社交孤立（73人中的11人 [15%]）、住房或經濟困難（73人中的15人 [21%]）以及暴力問題（73人中的9人 [12%]）。在75名學生中，有52人（69%）此前曾接觸過大學的支持服務；然而，相關報告指出，在獲取支持、信息共享、參與度監測以及學術支持與學生關懷支持之間的協作方面，存在反覆出現的問題。儘管有國家層面的指導方針，但在79起嚴重事件的調查中，僅有19起（24%）報告了家屬的參與。解讀：採取一系列措施——包括將校園心理健康置於優先地位，並為高風險群體（如神經多樣性學生或經濟困難學生）提供針對性支持——有助於預防自殺。大學應確保住宿安全，並在獨立調查過程中常規性地讓家屬參與，從而從一開始就促進公開與透明。

[Summary] Background: Suicide in young people is a global priority and strengthening mental health support in education is central to England's suicide prevention strategy. Few studies have examined in detail the individual characteristics of higher-education students nationally who died by suicide. We aimed to describe individual and institutional characteristics of suspected student suicide, contact with support services, and adherence to sector guidance on serious incident investigations. Methods: We used a national case-series design to identify suspected suicide deaths in higher-education students in the 2023–24 academic year (from Aug 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024). Anonymised serious incident reports were obtained from higher-education providers in England. Data were systematically extracted using a structured pro forma developed with bereaved families and sector organisations and charities. Serious incident reports were also assessed for adherence to national guidance. Findings: Higher-education providers in England informed us of 107 suspected suicide deaths during the 2023–24 academic year. A serious incident report was completed for 86 of these deaths, of which 79 were obtained from 50 providers. Most students who died were men (50 [71%] of 70 with available data were men and 18 [26%] were women). Where known (n=24), mean age was 23·9 years (SD 7·0; range 19–47). Ethnicity was unknown for most students (70 [89%] of 79). Most students were undergraduates (45 [71%] of 63) who lived away from home (44 [72%] of 61). 11 (22%) of 50 deaths with available data occurred in university-managed or privately managed student accommodation. Six reports indicated potential suicide clusters. Mental health difficulties (45 [62%] of 73), academic problems (38 [52%] of 73), and neurodivergence (30 [41%] of 73) were the most common features reported before death, often alongside relationship problems (24 [33%] of 73), self-harm (16 [22%] of 73), social isolation (11 [15%] of 73), housing or financial problems (15 [21%] of 73), and violence (nine [12%] of 73). 52 (69%) of 75 students had previous contact with university support services, although reports highlighted recurring issues with access to support, information sharing, monitoring engagement, and joint working between academic and pastoral supports. Despite national guidance, family involvement in serious incident investigations was only reported for 19 (24%) of 79. Interpretation: A range of actions, including prioritising mental health on campus and offering targeted support to those at risk (eg, neurodivergent or financially insecure students) could contribute to suicide prevention. Universities should ensure the safety of accommodation and routinely involve families in an independent investigation process, promoting openness and transparency from the earliest point.

論文原文：Cathryn Rodway, Su-Gwan Tham, Pauline Turnbull, et al. (2026). Characteristics of higher-education students in England who died by suspected suicide in a single academic year: a national retrospective case series study. The Lancet / Psychiatry, Volume 13, Issue 8, Pages 678-687. August 2026.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(26)00173-2

（翻譯兼責任編輯：MARY）

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