1217 psychiatric patients from a hospital in eastern Finland were examined for current smoking, suicidal ideation, previous suicide attempts, & other risk factors. The probability of a least 1 previous suicide attempt was 100% higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers. Smokers also had a 43% higher risk of experiencing mild to severe suicidal ideation than nonsmokers. Current smoking was significantly related to suicidality even after controlling for confounding factors. (18 refs.)