Depression and suicide ideation in the young adult.

As part of the Community Mental Health Epidemiology Program 489 18--24-year-olds in Washington County, Md., and Kansas City, Mo., were studied to learn which factors are related to thoughts of suicide in young adults. Depressive symptomatology, poor physical health, and minor psychiatric symptoms were present in this population, as they are in adults of all ages who have suicide ideation. Overt aggression and separation from the mother before 16 years of age were also present. These factors have been previously shown to be characteristic of suicide attempters and completers, so early identification of people at high risk for suicide by use of these factors may be feasible.