Ten cases of head-injured, suicide-surviving adolescents: challenges for rehabilitation

This paper describes ten adolescents who made unequivocal suicide attempts which resulted in near-death and brain damage. As predicted from studies of successful suicide, this group was mostly male, in late adolescence, and with histories of psychiatric difficulties. The fact that each had tried to commit suicide was avoided by the medical care facilities and by the families. The term 'accident' was customary. This paper makes suggestions for mental health clinicians who consult to head-injury rehabilitation teams treating such adolescents. Two cases are presented to highlight the findings and recommendations of this study.