Suicide and parasuicide among further education students in Edinburgh.

During the period 1979-1982 the incidence of suicide and parasuicide for students aged 15-24 years was found to be lower than that of others of the same age in Edinburgh. A comparison of student parasuicides with matched non-student parasuicides shows similar parasuicide repetition rates, but some differences in respect of precipitants (twice as many students reporting no major event prior to the episode), agent of poisoning (analgesics more commonly used by students; hypnotics, tranquillisers and barbiturates, by controls), and social and clinical characteristics (a greater proportion of controls reporting parasuicide in the family, a criminal record and being the victim of violence).