Suicide attempts and life events 5–9 years after referral for emergency psychiatric outpatient treatment

Abstract

The aim of this naturalistic and retrospective follow-up study was to identify putative predictors of suicide attempts among young adults at high risk with a particular view on adverse life events. One hundred young adults who had been given emergency treatment for mental health problems in child and adolescent outpatient clinics in Norway were assessed 5–9 years after referral. Suicide and suicide attempts in the follow-up period were registered as well as suicide attempts at referral and previous suicide attempts unrelated to the treatment referral. In addition, adverse life events during childhood and adolescence and social background factors were registered. Only one subject committed suicide during the follow-up period. However, suicide attempts were frequent (29/100) and equally distributed among those referred for suicidal or other reasons. Those who had attempted suicide experienced more adverse life events during adolescence, were more likely to be male, to have incomplete schooling and a record of psychiatric hospitalizations. Clinicians need to address the risk of future suicide attempts also among young emergency patients not referred for suicidal reasons.

• Adolescent psychiatry
• Attempted suicide
• Child psychiatry
• Follow-up studies
• Mental health services