Suicidal Thoughts, Suicide Attempts, Major Depressive Episode, and Substance use Among Adults

This article reports that among American adults, aged 18 or older, who experienced a past year major depressive episode, 56.3 percent thought, during their worst or most recent episode, that it would be better if they were dead, 40.3 percent thought about suicide, 14.5 percent made a suicide plan, & 10.4 percent made a suicide attempt. Those who also reported past month binge alcohol or illicit drug use were more likely to report suicidal thoughts & suicide attempts. In 2004, an estimated 106,079 emergency department visits were the result of drug-related suicide attempts by persons, aged 18 or older. A psychiatric condition was diagnosed in 41 percent of the drug-related suicide attempts treated in the emergency department. (16 refs.) JA