Despite extensive research, our knowledge about adolescent parasuicide, why its incidence is currently so high and how to predict it remaines incomplete. In the past, research often focused on aetiological factors & long-range prediction. In this article short-term aetiological variables relating to both immediate precipitants & psychiatric diagnoses are explored. Findings should contribute to a clearer understanding of the build-up to the parasuicidal crisis, level of disturbance & treatment.