Correlates of suicide attempts in young people in India – a case-control study of persons admitted to a hospital in Pune

BACKGROUND: Suicide attempts in young people in India are a major public health concern but the reasons for these remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with suicide attempts in persons aged 15–29 years in India. METHODS: We conducted a matched case–control study at a public hospital in the urban region of Pimpri-Chinchward, Pune, between 2019 and 2023. 15–29-year-olds who were admitted to the hospital following a suicide attempt (cases) were compared with 151 outpatients who presented at the general medicine department of the same hospital (controls). We administered a comprehensive semi-structured interview to participants in both groups and analysed the data using cox regression models. RESULTS: There were eight factors independently associated with suicide attempts. At the individual-level, these were: clinically significant depressive or anxiety symptoms over the last two weeks, previous suicide attempt, impulsivity, and low SES; alcohol use was significant only for males. Among the social factors, lack of exposure to suicide-related information in the last month, lack of social interactions over the last 12 months, and presence of interpersonal negative life events involving partners or family in the last 12 months were associated with suicide attempts. Descriptive data on life events revealed several relationship adversities, and the importance of acute interpersonal stressors in precipitating suicide attempts. CONCLUSION: A range of factors are associated with suicide attempts in young people in India which calls for a multifactorial approach towards suicide prevention. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.