Suicide attempts by adolescents assisted in an emergency department: a cross-sectional study.
Vanessa Dias Fogaça, Danton Mateus de Souza, Lucía Silva and 4 others
PMID 37042925WHAT IT FOUND
Most adolescents who attempted suicide used medication, often belonging to family members.
Only 26.1% of these cases were officially reported as required. Emergency care focused on physical stabilization, with little documentation of psychiatric assessment or follow-up planning.
Key findings
01Medication overdose was the most common method, used in 84.1% of cases, with antidepressants and analgesics frequently involved.
02Compulsory notification of self-inflicted violence was completed in only 26.1% of cases, despite being mandatory since 2010.
03Psychiatric assessment and maintenance of previous treatment were documented in only 10.3% of consultations.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted at a single institution, limiting generalizability. Data was retrospective and relied on medical records, which may not reflect the full quality of care provided. The initial strict code for suicide attempts yielded only 28 records, forcing an expansion of criteria to include intoxications and undetermined intent, which may introduce classification bias. Underreporting of suicide attempts is acknowledged as a significant issue, meaning the true prevalence and risk profile may be underestimated. The study did not analyze trends over time, so it cannot confirm changes in demand during the pandemic period.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the low admission rate (18.1%) indicates mild cases or successful outpatient management. The data shows a lack of documented psychiatric assessment and follow-up for many patients, and the study notes that emergency care is often fragmented and focused on physical stabilization rather than mental health support.