ADOLESCENT SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS - A POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF RISK

Background. Reports of adolescent suicidal behaviour have generally de rived from clinical settings but population-based studies art likely t o provide a clearer epidemiological view. Methods. Non-fatal suicidal behaviours were studied in 1699 Australian 15- to 16-year-old secondar y school students at 44 schools in the state of Victoria, Australia, S elf-reported episodes of self-harm were characterized using items from the Beck Suicide Intent Scale. Results. The 12 month weighted prevale nce estimate for deliberate self-harm was 5.1%. The commonest forms we re self-laceration (1.7%), self-poisoning (1.5%) and deliberate reckle ssness (1.8%). Self-poisoning and self-laceration were commoner in gir ls. The prevalence of 'true suicide attempts' was 0.2%. Most self-harm ers did not perceive death as likely, plan self-harming episodes at le ngth or inform others of the episodes. Psychiatric morbidity had the s trongest association with self-harm, an association which held for all subtypes. Antisocial behaviour and substance abuse were associated wi th self-harm in girls but not boys. Sexual activity was independently associated with self-harm in both genders. Conclusions. Deliberate sel f-harm was common but the great majority of episodes were not 'true su icide attempts'. It is, therefore, possible that attributable mortalit y and morbidity may be greater in self-harmers without definite suicid al intent.