Résumé
Background: people who make medically serious suicide attempts (MSSAs) share a number of features with those who complete suicide, and are at a high risk of suicide themselves. Studies to date have mostly focused on clinical samples; an epidemiological examination at the national level will help to establish risk profiles and pathways of care in this population.Methods: we explored the French nationwide hospital discharge database (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information, PMSI) to identify any MSSA taking place between 2012 and 2019. Relevant demographic and medical information were collected about the first MSSA of each attempter with a two-year washout period.Results: first occurrences of MSSAs amounted to 81 959 cases over 8 years, with a mean age of 45.8, and 53.6% women. Incidence was higher in women (18.1 versus 17.3 per 100 000). The most common suicide method was deliberate self-poisoning (64.9% of cases). In comparison, violent methods associated higher mortality and comorbidity and were more frequent in men. The most common mental disorders were mood disorders (55.6%) and substance use disorders (46.2%). A minority of MSSA survivors were hospitalized in psychiatry (32.5%), mostly women.Conclusions: MSSAs are frequent and easy to identify. There is a need to reinforce the continuity of psychiatric care for this population given the high risk of subsequent suicide, and the poor rates of psychiatric hospitalization after an MSSA. Specific care targeting this population could reduce treatment gaps.