BACKGROUND: Suicide among children and adolescents is a major public health issue. It is one of the leading causes of death in youths. A previous suicide attempt is a well-established risk factor for completed suicide. Since 1998, hospitalisation has been recommended for all children or adolescents who have attempted suicide by the French sanitary agency. We aim to estimate the frequency of suicide attempts during childhood and adolescence and the frequency of hospitalisation after a suicide attempt.
METHOD: A cross-sectional sample of adolescents aged 17 years was recruited in 2008 (ESCAPAD Study). Analyses were conducted on 38,236 participants who responded to the question: "During your life, have you ever attempted suicide?". Bivariate statistical analyses compared sociodemographics characteristics and perceived relationships in the family according to the presence of a history of suicide attempt.
RESULTS: In our sample of French adolescents aged 17 years, 8.2% (n=3146) reported at least one history of suicide attempt. Three out of four adolescents reporting a history of suicide attempt were women (sex-ratio 1:3). Adolescents who were out of school at 17 years old (Odds ratio=2.24 [CI 95%: 1.83-2.75]; P<. 0.001) and those who had repeated at least one grade in school (Odds ratio=1.97 [CI 95%: 1.83-2.12]; P<. 0.001) were more likely to report a history of suicide attempt. Those whom parents were unemployed (Odds ratio=1.41 [CI 95%: 1.24-1.61]; P<. 0.001) were also more likely to report a history of suicide attempt. Family discord and negative relationship with parents were also associated with an increased frequency of history of suicide attempt. Only 25% of adolescents reporting a history of suicide attempt were hospitalised after this suicide attempt.