Depression and Suicidality: The Roles of Social Support and Positive Mental Health

Abstract

Objective Despite being preventable, suicide remains a leading cause of death globally, with depression being one of the more prominent risk factors. This study examines the roles of social support and positive mental health in the depression-suicidality pathway. Methods We utilized data from the Singapore Mental Health Study 2016. Social support and positive mental health were examined as mediators in the relationship between 12-month depression and 12-month suicidality using survey-weighted generalized structural equation modeling. Results Overall positive mental health was found to partially mediate the relationship between depression and suicide. Of the discrete positive mental health domains, the depression-suicidality relationship was partially mediated by general coping and fully mediated by personal growth and autonomy. Conclusion While findings regarding social support were inconclusive, positive mental health may play a significant role in alleviating the effects of depression on suicidality. This highlights the multifaceted nature of suicidality and reveals positive mental health as a new area in assessing and treating at-risk people, to improve clinical outcomes. HIGHLIGHTS The effect of depression on suicidality was partially mediated by overall positive mental health. General coping partially mediated the relationship between depression and suicidality. Personal growth and autonomy fully mediated the relationship between depression and suicidality.