Emergency presentations for suicide attempts in adolescents are a major public health concern, but knowledge about their patterns and whether these have changed over time remains limited. This study aimed not only to describe emergency presentations of adolescents with suicide attempts but also to provide a longitudinal perspective on temporal trends and shifts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a retrospective review of adolescents (10–18 years) presenting to our Level 1 pediatric emergency department (tertiary referral, 24/7 pediatric emergency unit) after a confirmed suicide attempt between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2025. Patients were categorized into pre-COVID, COVID, and post-COVID periods. Binary logistic regression models identified predictors of repeat attempt and ICU admission. A total of 1111 cases were included; roughly three-quarters were female. Medication ingestion was the most common method, differing significantly by sex but not by age. Higher median age and more prior psychiatric diagnosis were observed in the post-COVID-19 period. The distribution of admission months differed significantly between the two periods (χ2 = 23.30; p = 0.016). Winter months were the most represented. Family history of suicide was the strongest independent predictor of repeat attempt.Conclusion: Adolescent suicide attempts show a sex- and method-specific profile, with the pandemic period associated with increased psychiatric burden. Family history of suicide and prior psychiatric diagnosis should remain central to risk assessment.<Table Float="No" ID="Taba"> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec align="left" colname="c1" colnum="1" /> <colspec align="left" colname="c2" colnum="2" /> <tbody> <row> <entry align="left" nameend="c2" namest="c1"> What is Known: • Adolescent suicide attempts are a major public health concern, and medication ingestion is the most commonly reported method in emergency department presentations. • Previous psychiatric disorders and family-related psychosocial factors are recognized risk factors for recurrent suicidal behavior in adolescents. </entry> </row> <row> <entry align="left" nameend="c2" namest="c1"> What is New: • In this 16-year retrospective study, family history of suicide was identified as the strongest independent predictor of repeat suicide attempts. • The post-COVID period was associated with an older age profile and a higher prevalence of previous psychiatric diagnoses among adolescents presenting after suicide attempts. </entry> </row> </tbody> </tgroup> </Table>

Trends and methods of emergency department visits related to suicide attempts in adolescents: a 16-year retrospective observational study (2010–2025)

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年6月1日

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Emre Aygün,
Burcu Kabil,
Bariş Polatdemir,
Meryem Yelda Tan,
Dilara Demirpençe Seçinti,
Ertuğrul Altinbilek,
Ayşe Şahin

摘要

Emergency presentations for suicide attempts in adolescents are a major public health concern, but knowledge about their patterns and whether these have changed over time remains limited. This study aimed not only to describe emergency presentations of adolescents with suicide attempts but also to provide a longitudinal perspective on temporal trends and shifts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a retrospective review of adolescents (10–18 years) presenting to our Level 1 pediatric emergency department (tertiary referral, 24/7 pediatric emergency unit) after a confirmed suicide attempt between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2025. Patients were categorized into pre-COVID, COVID, and post-COVID periods. Binary logistic regression models identified predictors of repeat attempt and ICU admission. A total of 1111 cases were included; roughly three-quarters were female. Medication ingestion was the most common method, differing significantly by sex but not by age. Higher median age and more prior psychiatric diagnosis were observed in the post-COVID-19 period. The distribution of admission months differed significantly between the two periods (χ² = 23.30; p = 0.016). Winter months were the most represented. Family history of suicide was the strongest independent predictor of repeat attempt.

Conclusion: Adolescent suicide attempts show a sex- and method-specific profile, with the pandemic period associated with increased psychiatric burden. Family history of suicide and prior psychiatric diagnosis should remain central to risk assessment.

What is Known:

• Adolescent suicide attempts are a major public health concern, and medication ingestion is the most commonly reported method in emergency department presentations.

• Previous psychiatric disorders and family-related psychosocial factors are recognized risk factors for recurrent suicidal behavior in adolescents.

What is New:

• In this 16-year retrospective study, family history of suicide was identified as the strongest independent predictor of repeat suicide attempts.

• The post-COVID period was associated with an older age profile and a higher prevalence of previous psychiatric diagnoses among adolescents presenting after suicide attempts.