Clinical and demographic characteristics of adolescents, emerging adults, and young adults presenting to an emergency department following a suicide attempt

Source:

Brdar, N. M., Matta, N. K., Miner, C. A., Bhuiyan, M. R., Pallas, I. G., Bickersteth, A. L., Prokop, H. G., & Bornheimer, L. A. (2026). Clinical and demographic characteristics of adolescents, emerging adults, and young adults presenting to an emergency department following a suicide attempt. JCPP Advances, 6(2), e70044. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.70044

Abstract

Introduction

Suicide is a significant public health concern and the second leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults. This study sought to better understand differences in demographic and clinical characteristics of young people who attempted suicide during three phases of this developmental period: late adolescence (14–17 years), emerging adulthood (18–25 years), and young adulthood (25–29 years).

Methods

Demographic and clinical characteristics, including suicide attempt and hospital encounter details, were collected from the Electronic Health Record of 1706 patients ages 14–29 who presented to an academic healthcare system in the Midwestern United States between 2008 and 2023 after a suicide attempt. Differences between age groupings were examined using Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs.

Results

Overall, patients were an average age of 18.86 years old (SD = 4.19) with a majority identifying as white (75.5%), female (68.3%), cisgender women (63.5%). Significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics were found across age groups, including: gender, race, sex, attempt method, length of hospital stay, suicide risk assessment, and discharge disposition. Of note, despite endorsing higher levels of suicide risk severity, emerging adults were disproportionately determined to be at a moderate risk level and had shorter lengths of stay in the hospital.

Discussion

Findings expand upon literature that distinguishes emerging adulthood as a distinct developmental period from adolescence and adulthood, in addition to highlighting the complexities of identifying and managing suicide risk during this developmental period. Implications point toward the need to tailor suicide prevention approaches for emerging adults, target implementation efforts to specifically reach this population, and ensure resources are provided in alignment with their developmental needs.

Key points

What's known?

• Suicide is a leading cause of death for youth and young adults, and studies focusing on those who have attempted suicide may provide insight that can help inform future prevention efforts.

What's new?

• In the present study, patients in each of the three age groups significantly differed in a number of demographic and clinical characteristics, including gender, race, sex, attempt method, non-suicidal self-injurious behavior, interrupted/aborted attempt, history of prior attempt, length of hospital stay, suicide risk assessment, and discharge disposition.

• Findings reinforce and build upon existing literature that establishes emerging adulthood as a distinct developmental period, suggesting a need for more developmentally-relevant assessment and intervention for this population.

What's relevant?

• Study implications emphasize the need for tailored suicide prevention approaches with unique considerations for implementation among transitional aged youth and young adults to ensure resources are provided in alignment with their developmental needs.