Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adults

BackgroundThere are few prevalence studies of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH).AimsWe aimed to estimate the prevalence of thoughts of NSSH, suicidal thoughts, NSSH and suicide attempts among 18- to 34-year-olds in Scotland.MethodWe interviewed a representative sample of young adult...

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Main Authors: Rory C. O'Connor, Karen Wetherall, Seonaid Cleare, Sarah Eschle, Julie Drummond, Eamonn Ferguson, Daryl B. O'Connor, Ronan E. O'Carroll
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2018-05-01
Series:BJPsych Open
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472418000145/type/journal_article
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author Rory C. O'Connor
Karen Wetherall
Seonaid Cleare
Sarah Eschle
Julie Drummond
Eamonn Ferguson
Daryl B. O'Connor
Ronan E. O'Carroll
author_facet Rory C. O'Connor
Karen Wetherall
Seonaid Cleare
Sarah Eschle
Julie Drummond
Eamonn Ferguson
Daryl B. O'Connor
Ronan E. O'Carroll
author_sort Rory C. O'Connor
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThere are few prevalence studies of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH).AimsWe aimed to estimate the prevalence of thoughts of NSSH, suicidal thoughts, NSSH and suicide attempts among 18- to 34-year-olds in Scotland.MethodWe interviewed a representative sample of young adults from across Scotland.ResultsWe interviewed 3508 young people; 11.3 and 16.2% reported a lifetime history of suicide attempts and NSSH, respectively. The first episode of NSSH tended to precede the first suicide attempt by about 2 years. Age at onset of NSSH and suicide attempt was younger in females. Earlier age at onset was associated with more frequent NSSH/suicide attempts. Women are significantly more likely to report NSSH and suicide attempts compared with men.ConclusionsOne in nine young people has attempted suicide and one in six has engaged in NSSH. Clinicians should be vigilant, as suicide attempts and NSSH are relatively common.Declaration of interestNone.
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spelling doaj.art-5a77dc4d2d674e63a47688559118ee282023-03-09T12:28:45ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242018-05-01414214810.1192/bjo.2018.14Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adultsRory C. O'Connor0Karen Wetherall1Seonaid Cleare2Sarah Eschle3Julie Drummond4Eamonn Ferguson5Daryl B. O'Connor6Ronan E. O'Carroll7Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UKSuicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UKSuicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UKSuicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UKSuicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, UKSchool of Psychology, University of Nottingham, UKSchool of Psychology, University of Leeds, UKDivision of Psychology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UKBackgroundThere are few prevalence studies of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH).AimsWe aimed to estimate the prevalence of thoughts of NSSH, suicidal thoughts, NSSH and suicide attempts among 18- to 34-year-olds in Scotland.MethodWe interviewed a representative sample of young adults from across Scotland.ResultsWe interviewed 3508 young people; 11.3 and 16.2% reported a lifetime history of suicide attempts and NSSH, respectively. The first episode of NSSH tended to precede the first suicide attempt by about 2 years. Age at onset of NSSH and suicide attempt was younger in females. Earlier age at onset was associated with more frequent NSSH/suicide attempts. Women are significantly more likely to report NSSH and suicide attempts compared with men.ConclusionsOne in nine young people has attempted suicide and one in six has engaged in NSSH. Clinicians should be vigilant, as suicide attempts and NSSH are relatively common.Declaration of interestNone.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472418000145/type/journal_article
spellingShingle Rory C. O'Connor
Karen Wetherall
Seonaid Cleare
Sarah Eschle
Julie Drummond
Eamonn Ferguson
Daryl B. O'Connor
Ronan E. O'Carroll
Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adults
BJPsych Open
title Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adults
title_full Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adults
title_fullStr Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adults
title_full_unstemmed Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adults
title_short Suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm: national prevalence study of young adults
title_sort suicide attempts and non suicidal self harm national prevalence study of young adults
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472418000145/type/journal_article
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