SURVIVE study finds 20% suicide reattempt rate within one year

The SURVIVE (Suicide Prevention and Intervention Study) project has revealed that 20% of individuals hospitalized following a suicide attempt will attempt to take their own life again within the first year. The study, which involved 1,730 participants from eight public hospitals across five Spanish autonomous communities, highlights that the risk of reattempt is particularly high during the three months following the initial hospital discharge.

Key risk factors identified include a high load of psychotropic medication (four to five prescribed drugs), a history of non-suicidal self-injury, and frequent suicidal ideation. Additionally, experiencing moderate to severe emotional abandonment during childhood and having a history of multiple previous attempts significantly increase the risk. Dr. Víctor Pérez, a psychiatrist at Hospital del Mar and lead researcher, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen mental health care and maintain support for at least one year following hospital discharge to prevent recurrence.