Age-specific characteristics of attempted suicide in adolescence

A total of 422 suicide attempts of adolescents (15 to 19 years of age) were investigated and compared with 327 suicide attempts of young adults. Adolescents had more serious social problems than young adults. Their adaptive problems became worse while growing older until the age of 20. Adolescents made suicide attempts with serious intent more often than young adults, but their suicide attempts were not as often lethal as in young adults. Although repeated suicide attempts were relatively common in both groups, only 10 people were part of both materials. Adolescents were as often psychotic when attempting suicide as young adults were. Twenty-four percent of adolescents and 26% of young adults were admitted to a psychiatric hospital as treatment.

Suicide and violent death among adolescent suicide attempters

A total of 422 subsequent suicide attempts commited by 362 people 15-19 years old in the Helsinki area in 1973-1982 were investigated to find risk factors for subsequent suicide or violent death. By the end of 1982, 8.7% of 115 boys and 1.2% of 247 girls had died. Eight (2.2%) had committed suicide. The mean annual mortality for suicide and violent death was 20-fold compared with the mortality for suicide and violent death among people 15-19 years old in Finland at that time. The risk ratios of the boys for suicide (2.0) and for violent death (2.4) were greater than that of the girls (0.6 and 0.3 respectively). The risk ratio of psychotic persons for suicide was 4.2 and for violent death 4.1. Seriousness of intent heightened the risk, whereas degree of lethality did not influence it. The people who expressed clear-cut difficulties as a reason for their suicide attempt seemed to have a smaller risk for suicide or violent death than people whose reasons remained unclear. Attempted suicide among boys is a serious symptom for predicting subsequent suicide that should be addressed in suicide prevention.

Adolescent suicide attempts: sex differences predicting suicide

Four hundred and twenty-two consecutive hospitalized suicide attempts made by 15-19 year old girls and boys in Helsinki area were investigated. One hundred and twenty suicide attempts were made by 115 boys and 302 by 247 girls. Differences between sex were analyzed. Boys had more severe adaptive problems. Their overall level of functioning was poorer than was that of the girls. Their physical health was not as good as that of the girls. Boys did not carry out more severe suicide attempts as concerns the estimated lethality and intent of the attempt, but their suicide attempts seemed to be connected with more severe physical, mental and social problems. Boys were more susceptible to alcohol provoked suicidal behaviour than girls, and they presented less appealing motives. The outcome of the boys was much worse than the outcome of the girls. Risk ratio for suicide during the 5-year follow-up was 2.0 for boys and 0.55 for girls. Risk ratio concerning violent death was 2.43 for boys and 0.33 for girls. Young male adolescents attempting suicide should be taken very seriously as a risk group for subsequent suicide.

Adolescent suicide attempts 1973-1982 in the Helsinki area

Four hundred and twenty-two adolescent suicide attempts were examined. The intent to die was weaker than in adult persons. Within lethality no difference was found. Adolescents came mostly from the lowest social classes and their educational status was low. Their mental health was often unsatisfactory. The psychiatric treatment, which was arranged after the suicide attempt, was not more intensive than that arranged for adult suicide attempters.

Adolescents who make suicide attempts repeatedly

Four hundred and six consecutive suicide attempts made by 15-19 year-old adolescents in 1973-1982 were examined. Two hundred and twenty-six cases were first, 180 repeated suicide attempts. Repeaters came from poorer social situations and less well integrated families than first-timers. Repeaters had many adapting problems typical of personality disorders and had previously been in psychiatric treatment. Their level of adaptive functioning (GAS) and overall functioning (DSM III: s axis V) were poorer than within first-timers. They were not psychotic more often than first-timers and did not make more difficult suicide attempts. Their psychiatric after-care was more intensive and prognosis with regard to subsequent suicide was poorer than within first-timers. At the end of follow-up time (approx. 5 years) 1% of first-timers and 4% of repeaters had committed suicide. Observed-expected ratio for first-timers was 0.58 and for repeaters 1.73.