Subsequent Mortality in Medically Serious Suicide Attempts: a 5 Year Follow-up

All sources of mortality were examined in a 5 year prospective study of 302 individuals who had made medically serious suicide attempts. It was found that within 5 years of making a medically serious suicide attempt, 1 in 11 (8.9%) of participants had died, 59.2% by completing suicide. Comparison with the general population showed the excess mortality was attributable to death by suicide & by motor vehicle accidents. The need for enhanced & long-term treatment, follow-up & surveillance programmes is discussed. (21 refs)