[Descriptive study of suicidal adolescents conducted in Abidjan]

The answer to the various problems encountered during adolescence is experienced in the form of behavioural thoughts and/or action expressed in conduct. The failure to act could lead to suicidal ideation and its completion. Are there any risk factors? The general aim of this study was to describe the motives and methods of suicide among adolescents observed in Abidjan, in order to contribute to their care.

The prospective study, referred to as descriptive, was initiated in the Mental Health Service of the National Public Health Institute in Abidjan from the 1(st) of June to the 31(st) of October 2005, within the setting of the resuscitation service of the University Hospital centers of Cocody, Treichville and the emergency department of the university hospital of Yopougon. The sociodemographic, clinical, therapeutic and evolutive data of suicidal behaviour was analysed in 42 subjects.

The study shows the following observations: a predominance of emotional problems (52.38%) versus 38.10% of family conflicts and 7.14% of failure at school; the subjects had resorted to chemical means dominated by chloroquin (45.62%) followed by psychotropics 14.40%; suicide was completed impulsively in 85.71% of cases; except in one case, suicidal behaviour took place at home and 66.67% in the evening; only three suicidal adolescents were oriented towards a psychiatric unit.

Our study underlined the difficulties. Once the vital emergency has been managed, the solution would be the immediate orientation of suicidal adolescents towards psychiatric structures. This situation calls for a wider integration of psychiatry in health facilities in the Ivory Coast.