What predicts medical lethality of suicide attempts in Asian youths?

- Peak in suicide attempts in youths.
- Model using recognized risk and protective factors was significant in predicting medical lethality.
- Resolution of precipitant made unique contribution.

This study explores youth suicide attempts in Singapore using multiple databases of comprehensive archival records. Three years of medical records related to suicide attempters (N = 666) who were admitted to the emergency department of a large teaching hospital in Singapore were subjected to retrospective analysis. Compared to other age groups, a peak in suicide attempts (n = 207) was observed in youths aged between 15 and 24 years old (76.3% females; 23.7% males, mean age = 19.30, SD = 2.89). The model using recognized risk and protective factors was significant in predicting medical lethality, and correctly classified 62.8% of high lethality cases. Only resolution of precipitant made a unique statistical significant contribution. Analysis was separately conducted for males and females. Implications of the findings are discussed.