National Child Mortality Database

The role of the paediatrician in assessing internet use in young people and its effect on mental health and suicide [BMJ]

NCMD Programme — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 09:36:01 +0000

Every child suicide is a tragedy, with far-reaching consequences for families, communities, and society as a whole. It is one of the leading causes of death in young people, with a rate of 1.8 per 100,000 9-17 year olds. As professionals involved in the investigation of child deaths, paediatricians frequently encounter concerns about the influence of the internet, but little research exists, despite calls for greater safety online and the Online Safety Act 2023.

This NCMD research paper addresses concerns raised by clinicians who often feel that these issues fall outside their remit. We explore the red flags of online interactions and intersectional risk factors.

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Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Epilepsy in Children in England: What can we learn?

NCMD Programme — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 08:14:29 +0000

Epilepsy is one of the most common long-term conditions affecting approximately 112,000 children and young people (CYP) under 18 years of age in the UK. When someone with epilepsy dies suddenly and unexpectedly, without any alternative cause identified, it is called Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).

This briefing describes the characteristics of the children who died of SUDEP between April 2019 and March 2024, and explores learning from the national themes identified from the child death reviews.

Read the briefing

The suggested actions in the report call on Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), Trusts and neighbourhood services to:

Fully implement the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations and Epilepsy12 metrics
Review the design, capacity, timeliness and effectiveness of early pathways towards specialist epilepsy services
Implement robust Was Not Brought (WNB) policies across the NHS, as detailed in the NICE Transition Guideline
Ensure robust systems are developed for identifying and communicating issues with prescriptions and dispensing, between pharmacies, primary, secondary and tertiary care
Avoid missed opportunities for monitoring outcomes after medication changes
Institute mandatory, high-quality paediatric epilepsy training for all professionals
Ensure that there is ongoing development of professional training and educational programmes so that professionals continue to develop and improve their management of epilepsy

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Close relationship union and pregnancy outcomes [The Lancet]

NCMD Programme — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:59:25 +0000

Consanguinity is associated with an increased risk of autosomal-recessive conditions. Factors such as low awareness of available services, language barriers, cultural considerations, and variation in how services are offered contribute to reduced rates of perinatal diagnosis and can affect access to a unifying diagnosis and appropriate care. The effects of consanguinity and these health-care barriers can be substantial, including increased perinatal and infant mortality and long-term morbidity.

This correspondence paper highlights the findings of the recent NCMD thematic report Understanding consanguinity-related child deaths, situating them in the broader context and underlining the urgent need to ensure that advances in genomic technologies translate into equitable clinical benefit.

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Understanding the wider determinants of child road fatalities in England and opportunities for prevention [BMJ]

NCMD Programme — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:11:12 +0000

In Great Britain, an estimated 4% of road deaths occur among children under 16 years-old. Previous research has often focused on individual-level risk factors, with less attention to the broader social, environmental and system-level determinants shaping child road safety.

This protocol paper explores how the NCMD’s unique data can be used to shine a light on the wider determinants of child road fatalities, and what opportunities exist to prevent deaths of this kind.

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Modifiable Factors Guidance for CDOPs: 2026 Update

NCMD Programme — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:47:54 +0000

In this session NCMD Deputy Director Vicky Sleap unpacks some of the common challenges professionals face when deciding whether a factor is truly modifiable, clarifies what the updated guidance recommends, and walks through several real‑world examples that frequently arise in reviews.

You can download the slides here.

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Changes in child suicide rates and characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic in England [Frontiers]

NCMD Programme — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 09:03:24 +0000

The aim of this study was to use the NCMD’s unique dataset to report on any changes, and characteristics of children dying by suicide in England, before, and during the COVID pandemic.

It finds that, in England, suicide rates do not appear to be increasing, and the methods of suicide remain static. The role of deprivation and suicide risk appears to be different between race/ethnicity, while a recorded diagnosis of a self-harm events appears to predict suicide in the subsequent month.

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New Guidance on Determining Modifiability

NCMD Programme — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:06:11 +0000

The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) is pleased to share its new guidance on determining modifiability within Child Death Review Meetings (CDRMs) and Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) reviews.

Developed through close collaboration with colleagues from CDOPs, public health, and the Association of Child Death Review Professionals (ACDRP), this resource reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the child death review process.

The guidance sets out clear, practical principles to support panels in identifying whether factors contributing to a child’s death are modifiable. It also helps reviewers consider what actions could be taken to address these factors effectively.

Included within the document is a helpful table of commonly recorded factors, alongside suggested actions that can be taken at local, regional, or national levels. By providing a consistent framework, this guidance aims to support more uniform decision-making across reviews.

We encourage all CDOPs and review teams to make use of this guidance to enhance consistency and impact in the child death review process.

Read the guidance

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Bringing Humanity to Data: Co-Producing Insights into Child Deaths from Life-Limiting Conditions and Paediatric Palliative Care in England

NCMD Programme — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:41:01 +0000

In this presentation NCMD Deputy Director Sylvia Stoianova and Emily Tammam, a writer, painter, speaker, and lived experience contributor explore how co-producing an NCMD study on palliative care enriched the findings, ensuring relevance to lived experience.

This presentation was given at the 20th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care in Prague.

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Tackling Fatal Childhood Knife Crime: Data, Trends & Pathways to Prevention

NCMD Programme — Thu, 21 May 2026 15:51:54 +0000

This event, delivered by the Centre for Childhoods and Social Justice (CSJ, University of Bristol) and the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), presents national evidence mapping the pre-injury, injury and post-injury factors underpinning child knife fatalities.

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Shifting perceptions of children’s palliative care

NCMD Programme — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:27:41 +0000

Presented by Heard, this webinar draws on narrative research and cognitive science to explore how professionals can use framing to improve people’s understanding and decision-making around children’s palliative care.

Attendees said:

Thank you for the opportunity to reflect upon my own practice and tools which I can adapt to my work, and thank you for helping me to recognise the personable things we try to do for families really do make a difference. I will share some of these insights with my colleagues who may not feel as comfortable as me in commencing these discussions.

Thank you for a powerful presentation, we never stop learning as professionals working with families in palliative care.

I really appreciate the time and consideration given for this session. It was really helpful and lots to think about.

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National Child Mortality Database

The role of the paediatrician in assessing internet use in young people and its effect on mental health and suicide [BMJ]

Sudden Unexpected Deaths in Epilepsy in Children in England: What can we learn?

Close relationship union and pregnancy outcomes [The Lancet]

Understanding the wider determinants of child road fatalities in England and opportunities for prevention [BMJ]

Modifiable Factors Guidance for CDOPs: 2026 Update

Warning! This video is designed as a professional training resource. Please note that the language used reflects a professional context. Some people may find it difficult or upsetting to watch.

Changes in child suicide rates and characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic in England [Frontiers]

New Guidance on Determining Modifiability

Bringing Humanity to Data: Co-Producing Insights into Child Deaths from Life-Limiting Conditions and Paediatric Palliative Care in England

Warning! This video is designed as a professional training resource. Please note that the language used reflects a professional context. Some people may find it difficult or upsetting to watch.

Tackling Fatal Childhood Knife Crime: Data, Trends & Pathways to Prevention

Warning! This video is intended for a professional audience and deals with difficult subject matter in a straightforward and matter-of-fact way. Those with lived experience of bereavement and child loss may find it difficult or upsetting to watch.

Shifting perceptions of children’s palliative care

Warning! This video is designed as a professional training resource. Please note that the language used reflects a professional context. Some people may find it difficult or upsetting to watch.