Evaluation of Adolescent and Adult Cases Presenting with Suicide Attempt: A Five-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the applications to the Emergency Departments in Uşak province between 2019 and 2023 due to suicide attempts and to provide guidance for social preventive programmes. Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted with the approval of the Uşak University Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee, dated 21 September 2023 and numbered 176-176-09. The study examined The archive of the Uşak Provincial Health Directorate was consulted to obtain records of cases of suicide attempts among individuals aged 13 years and over between the years 2019-2023. These records were examined between 1 November-31 December 2023. Results: A total of 947 patients participated in the study, 635 of whom were women. The majority of suicide attempts (43.2%) occurred between the ages of 13 and 24 years. The highest number of suicide attempts occurred between 18:00 and 23:59 (40.5%) and in summer (29.8%). The highest number of suicide attempts occurred in August (10.5%). The majority of those who attempted suicide were primary school graduates (47.0%) and unemployed (39.4%). The suicide attempt rate of farmers (42.9%) was significantly higher than other occupational groups (p=0.009). Family problems (31.3%) were the most common reason for suicide attempt. The most common method of suicide attempt was drug-toxic substance use (92.6%). Among the study participants, 21.1% had attempted suicide previously. Among those who attempted suicide, 24.2% had a previous psychiatric diagnosis. Medication (activated charcoal) was administered to 60.4% of the suicide attempters, while psychiatric consultation was requested for 11.5%. A total of 69.5% of the suicide attempts resulted in a single interview. Conclusion: Most of the suicide attempters were adolescent and young age group, female, illiterate, primary school graduate and unemployed. According to our study, the most common causes and methods of suicide attempts were familial problems and drug-toxic substance use. It is recommended that regulations should be implemented to ensure psychiatric consultation for all suicide attempters and that the follow-up and treatment of suicide attempters should be carried out by a team consisting of family physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers.