Adolescents with suicidality face a wide range of mental and social difficulties

This study examined how mental health, well-being, risk behaviors, and social life differ among teenagers who have experienced different levels of suicidality. The researchers wanted to understand whether young people who had suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts differ from those without such experiences.

The study included almost 48,000 18-year-olds from the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC). Suicidality was divided into several groups: no suicidality, suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, self-reported suicide attempts, and hospital-registered suicide attempts. The researchers compared how common poor mental health, risky behaviors, and social challenges were across these groups.

The results showed a clear pattern: the more severe the suicidality, the worse the mental health and well-being. Among girls with no suicidality, 14% reported depressive symptoms, compared to 44% with suicidal thoughts and up to 68% among those who had attempted suicide. For boys, the numbers were 5% with no suicidality, 27% with suicidal thoughts, and around half among those who had attempted suicide. The same gradual increase was seen for other indicators of poor well-being, risky behaviors, and social difficulties. There were no major differences between those who had self-reported a suicide attempt and those with a hospital record of one.