The Clinical and Social Profile Following a Suicide Attempt in Spain: Findings from the SURVIVE Study

A multicentre study involving more than 1,700 participants examines the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of adolescents and adults after a suicide attempt

Understanding the clinical, psychological, and social factors associated with suicide attempts is essential for improving prevention and mental health care. In this context, a new study from the SURVIVE project, published in European Psychiatry, presents one of the largest multicentre cohorts on suicidal behaviour conducted in Spain to date.

The study included 1,730 individuals treated in emergency departments following a suicide attempt across eight hospitals in five Spanish regions. The sample comprised both adolescents and adults, allowing researchers to examine similarities and differences across age groups.

The findings showed that depressive and anxiety disorders were the most common psychiatric diagnoses in both groups. However, important differences emerged: adolescents presented higher rates of trauma-related and eating disorders, whereas substance-related disorders were more frequent among adults.

Non-suicidal self-injury was particularly common among adolescents, being reported in more than 75% of cases. In both age groups, self-poisoning was the most frequently used method in the suicide attempt.

The study also highlights the importance of contextual and social factors. Approximately one in five participants had a migrant background, and a substantial proportion reported a family history of suicide. According to the authors, these factors may play an important role in psychological vulnerability and access to mental health care.

These findings reinforce the need for prevention strategies tailored to different developmental stages and clinical profiles, incorporating not only psychiatric variables but also social factors and previous life experiences.

Original study:

Pérez, V., Elices, M., Schmidt, C., Andreo-Jover, J., Ayad-Ahmed, W., Bobes-Bascarán, M. T., Botí, M. Á., Cebria Meca, A. I., Canal-Rivero, M., Canosa, I., Crespo-Facorro, B., de la Torre-Luque, A., Díaz-Marsá, M., Fernández-Fernández, J., García-Fernandez, A., Grande, I., Jiménez-Treviño, L., González-Pinto, A., Palao Vidal, D. J., … Sáiz, P. A. (2025). Demographic and Clinical Baseline Characteristics from the Spanish SURVIVE Prospective Cohort Study on Suicide Attempts. European Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10143