Sociodemographic and clinical risk factors in adolescent non-violent suicide attempts: A prospective study

Introduction: Suicide is a major global public health concern and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 15-29. In Turkey, the crude suicide rate has shown a consistent increase in recent years. This study aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department following non-violent suicide attempts, and to identify associated risk factors. Methods: In this prospective study, patients under 18 years presenting with nonviolent suicide attempts were included. Data collected comprised demographic and clinical features, psychiatric history of children and families, family dynamics, and substance use. Standardized tools used included the Family Assessment Device-Communication subscale, Adolescent Friendship Attachment Scale, Parenting Style Scale, and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation. Results: Of 101 patients (82.2% female; mean age 15.5 ± 1.3 years), 44.6% used their own medications, most frequently nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (19.6%). Psychiatric diagnoses were identified in 31.6%, prior suicide attempts in 43.6%, and tobacco/alcohol use in 35.5%. Poor family communication was observed in 73.3% of families, and authoritarian parenting in 35.6%. Substance use was found to predict recurrent suicidal ideation, while previous attempts and poor family communication predicted greater severity of suicidal ideation (OR = 3.093; p = 0.025), (OR = 4.267; p = 0.003), (OR = 3.218; p = 0.011). Conclusion: Adolescents with substance use, prior suicide attempts, and poor family communication are at significantly increased risk for severe or recurrent suicidal ideation.