The mental health of the peers of suicide completers and attempters

A cross-sectional investigation of the peers of Chinese adolescent suicide completers and attempters in Hong Kong indicates that being a friend of a suicide attempter brings an even higher risk of psychiatric disturbance and suicidal behaviour than being exposed to completed suicide. It is becoming more common for young people exposed to complete suicide to receive counselling, but this is not the case with peers of suicide attempters. Consideration must be given to the need for psychiatric services for the peers of suicide attempters.