Recommended care for young people (15-19 years) after suicide attempts in certain European countries

Data on recommended care for young people aged 15-19 years after attempted suicide from nine European research centres during the period 1989-1992 wer e analysed in terms of gender, history of previous suicide attempt and meth ods used. Altogether 438 suicide attempts made by 353 boys and 1.102 suicid e attempts made by 941 girls were included. Analyses of the total data from all centres showed that young people with a history of previous suicide at tempt and those using violent methods had significantly higher chance of be ing recommended aftercare than first-time attempters or those choosing self -poisoning. There were no significant differences of being recommended care between genders. Logistic regression analyses of the material were perform ed and the results were similar, Both having previous attempted suicide (od ds ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.53-2.61) and using "hard" methods (odds ratio 1.71, 95% CI 1.49-1.96) were significantly associated with increased possibility of being recommended aftercare. When individual centres were analysed, larg e disparities of recommended care after suicide attempts were found and the re were no uniform criteria of recommending care for young suicide attempte rs in Europe.