Young person dies by suicide two days after stronger prescription

A 19-year-old who repeatedly sought psychiatric hospital care to stay safe from self-harm died by suicide two days after receiving a stronger antidepressant prescription, Yle reports.

The young person, identified by the pseudonym Rusko, had been admitted to hospital in October 2025 after attempting suicide by overdosing on medication. Over the following six months, Rusko made several suicide attempts and sought help from healthcare services before dying in April.

Yle is not publishing Rusko’s or the mother’s real names because the article discusses Rusko’s health information. The information has been published with permission from both Rusko and the mother.

Rusko did not use intoxicants. They had depression as well as neuropsychiatric diagnoses including autism and ADHD. Their suicidal behaviour worsened after moving into their own home.

In late 2025, Rusko told Yle that they did not want to die but hoped to be admitted to a psychiatric ward for protection from themselves. Sometimes they were admitted, but they were repeatedly sent home from hospital.

Rusko experienced obsessive thoughts in the evenings when alone at home. The thoughts involved self-harm, and the distress eased only after they hurt themselves, according to descriptions given to healthcare staff.

After acts of self-harm, Rusko called an ambulance several times. At other times, they went to an emergency department when suicidal thoughts became overwhelming. The mother said Rusko was sent home from emergency care several times and then went on to harm themselves.

Healthcare staff concluded that Rusko’s condition did not justify longer inpatient treatment. Rusko spent about two weeks in inpatient care in Sastamala, although they were at home on weekends. Rusko felt the treatment had helped, but doctors reached a different conclusion after Rusko self-harmed during the treatment period.

Patient records show that Rusko did not feel medication or non-medication methods for managing anxiety were helping. At a psychiatric crisis ward, patients can receive up to three days of inpatient care and are taught methods such as squeezing an ice cube or placing Tabasco sauce on the tongue to manage anxiety safely.

A few days before their death, Rusko spent four days at the psychiatric crisis ward because of suicidal thoughts. During that time, their antidepressant prescription was renewed at twice the previous dosage.

A treatment entry reviewed by Yle states that Rusko promised to take the medication to their mother’s home for safekeeping. They did not do so. Rusko collected the medication from a pharmacy and died by suicide two days later.

The day before their death, Rusko went to a psychiatric emergency department at night because of suicidal thoughts. They had planned to take an overdose of their antidepressants.

The wellbeing services county of Pirkanmaa has launched an internal investigation into Rusko’s death. Such investigations are now conducted whenever a person dies by suicide. The aim is to examine the chain of events leading to the death and determine whether the care was provided appropriately. According to Yle, the investigation has not yet been completed.

For its report, Yle reviewed Rusko’s healthcare records from their final year, messages exchanged with relatives and recordings of discussions between the mother and staff from the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county after Rusko’s death. Yle also interviewed Rusko before their death at Rusko’s request.