Psychosocial Risk Factors for Future Adolescent Suicide Attempts

An array of psychosocial risk factors for making a suicide attempt were examined in a sample of 1508 high school students (age 14-18), 26 of whom had made a suicide attempt in the year following entry into the study. Some of the strongest predictors of a future suicide attempt included a history of past attempts, current suicidal ideation & depression. Results suggest that adolescents who are depressed & those who attempt suicide share many psychosocial risk factors. (61 refs.)