Introduction:

Young people represent a group of high vulnerability to suicide attempts and self-intoxication is the most used means for suicide.

Aim:

To describe the structure and background of families of young people hospitalized for suicide attempt with chemical agents.

Method:

Descriptive and cross-sectional research, in interviews with family members of 12 young people hospitalized for self-intoxication, from 2011 to 2016, and notified to a center for information and toxicological assistance in northwestern Paraná - Brazil. Semi-structured interviews and genogram making were used, grouped by similarity nuclei.

Results:

Most young people were female, aged between 14 and 19 years; four cases with previous suicide attempt, seven with mental disorder and three with drug abuse. Over the two generations, the family structure followed the diversity of society, with a decrease in the fertility rate, an increase in families headed by women, marital separation, grandparents responsible for the care of grandchildren and fragility of ties Family. The intrafamily relationship presented emotional dependence between the young index and the grandparents, but constant frictions and disagreements in the family environment, little emotional contact with parents and low family support before the suicide attempt. As a antecedent for suicide attempt, there was the use of drugs of abuse, mental disorders and gender identity conflicts.

Conclusions:

The genogram assisted in understanding the structure and intergenerational differences, in the identification of significant family members and family relationships as factors for suicide attempts.

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