Epidemiological Trends in Attempted Suicide in Adolescents and Young Adults Between 1996 and 2004

This article describes the results of a 9-year monitoring study of suicide attempts in adolescents & young adults referred to the emergency department of the Gent University Hospital, Belgium. Attempted suicide rates declined from 1996-2001, & then rose until 2004, but did not exceed previous rates. There was a preponderance of female attempters, except for 1997. Rates of attempts & of fatal suicide were negatively correlated. In nearly 1 in 5 attempts, alcohol was used in combination with other methods, & alcohol intake was more commonly observed in older suicide attempters. Nearly half of the adolescents were identified as repeaters. (15 refs.)