Relation between attempted suicide and suicide rates among young people in Europe

Study objective - To determine if there are associations between rates of suicide and attempted suicide in 15-24 year olds in different countries in Europe. Design - Attempted suicide rates were based on data collected in centres in Europe between 1989 and 1992 as part of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study of Parasuicide. Comparison was made with both national suicide rates and local suicide rates for the areas in which the attempted suicide monitoring centres are based. Setting - 15 centres in 13 European countries. Patients - Young people aged 15-24 years who had taken overdoses or deliberately injured themselves and been identified in health care facilities. Main results - There were positive correlations (Spearman rank order) between rates of attempted suicide and suicide rates in both sexes. The correlations only reached statistical significance for male subjects: regional suicide rates, r = 0.65, p < 0.02; national suicide rates, r = 0.55, p < 0.02. Conclusions - Rates of attempted suicide and suicide in the young covary. The recent increase in attempted suicide rates in young male subjects in several European countries could herald a further increase in suicide rates.