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Although suicide attempt is a known risk factor for later death by suicide, estimates of risk have varied. In this first-ever longitudinal, community-based, U.S. study of first-time suicide attempts, investigators used data from a Minnesota county on 1490 people (63% women; mean age, 28) who made an initial, medically documented attempt between 1986 and 2007. These data were correlated with outcomes on a national death register through 2010.
Forty-eight people (3.2%) died from the initial attempt (mean age, 33; 77% men), and 33 (2.2%) died in later attempts (mean age, 42; 76% men). Of those who initially survived but subsequently died by suicide, 82% did so within a year of the initial attempt. Firearm use in initial attempts was 140× more l…