Among patients examined after a suicide attempt in a Parisian emergency department, we aimed to compare individual characteristics of i) first time and multiple suicide attempters, ii) attempters whose principal motive was "to die" and attempters who had any other motive. Information regarding sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, prior mental health care and outgoing referral was collected in 168 suicide attempters using a standardized form. Associations of these variables with suicide attempt repetition (yes or no) and with the motive underlying the attempt (to die or not) were examined using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models. Multiple attempters were more likely to have no occupation and to report previous mental health care: mental health follow-up, psychiatric medication or psychiatric hospitalization. The motive to die was not associated with the risk of multiple suicide attempts but related to past suicidal ideation and to some specific precipitating factors, including psychiatric disorder. Patients who intended to die were also more likely to be referred to inpatient than to outpatient psychiatric care. Multiple attempters and attempters who desire to die might represent two distinct high-risk groups regarding clinical characteristics and care pathways. They would probably not benefit from the same intervention strategies.