Comparing subgroups of suicidal homeless adolescents: Multiple attempters, single attempters and ideators

This study compared multiple attempters, single attempters, ideators and non-suicidal homeless adolescents from the Midwestern United States. The data were collected in 1999–2000 from youths aged 16–19 years. More than one-quarter (26.7%) of the 405 participants made multiple lifetime attempts, 9.8% attempted suicide once, 48.9% thought about – but did not attempt – suicide and 14.6% never attempted or thought about suicide. Multiple attempters, relative to all other youths, evidenced more family, street, psychological and psychiatric problems. Single attempters reported more suicidal ideation than did ideators, and single attempters endured more family problems and were more likely to meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than were non-suicidal participants. Finally, both single attempters and ideators experienced more psychological problems and number of psychiatric diagnoses than did non‐suicidal youths. The Editor on behalf of the Editorial Board of Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies are saddened to note the untimely death of Dr. Kevin Yoder and convey sincere condolences to his family, friends and the academic community where he will be screly missed.