Attempted Suicide and Associated Risk Factors Among Youth in Urban Japan

The prevalence of attempted suicide was assessed & individual, interpersonal, behavioural, & psychological risk factors associated with attempted suicide were explored in a general community sample of metropolitan Japanese youth. 2095 youth, ages 15-24, were recruited using street-intercept techniques. Overall, 6% of males & 11% of females reported a prior suicide attempt. For males, attempted suicide was independently associated with school bullying, being homosexual or bisexual, history of drug use, experience of unwanted sex, history of a diagnosed sexually transmitted infection, & low self-esteem. For females, attempted suicide was independently associated with being younger, school bullying, history of drug use, & history of smoking. (32 refs.) JA