Being able to enjoy normal day to day activities separates suicidal ideation from attempted suicide in a nationwide population-based health examination study of adults aged 18 to 28 years.

A higher total score on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is associated with a higher likelihood of having suicidal ideation as well as having suicide attempt. The association of GHQ-12 with suicide attempts item by item has not been analyzed earlier. In a population-based sample, aged 18 to 28 years, mental illness was assessed as self-reported during the interview. Participants were also asked to score on two specific questions concerning suicidal ideation as well as attempted suicide. The GHQ-12 total score and each of the 12 item scores of the GHQ-12 were analyzed with regression models to explain suicidality ( The total score of GHQ-12 differed by suicidality (Bonferroni-corrected Being able to enjoy normal activities day to day made a difference between suicidal ideation and attempted suicide.