Objective Although emotion dysregulation is a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology, research typically focuses on dysregulation of negative emotions only. We investigated the contributions of dimensions of emotional experience, emotion beliefs, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) to both negative and positive emotion dysregulation. Method 441 participants (M age = 23.65, 73.5% female, 39.0% with lifetime NSSI) reported their negative and positive emotion reactivity, intensity, perseveration, and dysregulation, as well as their NSSI history and beliefs about the controllability and usefulness of emotions. Results Emotion intensity, perseveration, uncontrollability beliefs, and NSSI were uniquely associated with emotion dysregulation. Counter to predictions, emotion reactivity was associated with less dysregulation. Greater perseveration was associated with greater dysregulation of both negative and positive emotions, but only for participants who believed emotions were uncontrollable. NSSI also moderated the associations between emotion experiences and dysregulation. Among individuals who self-injure, increased emotional intensity was associated with greater dysregulation of positive emotions. Among individuals who self-injure and believed emotions were more useful, increased reactivity was linked to less dysregulation of positive emotions. Conversely, for those without a NSSI history who believed emotions were less useful, increased reactivity was associated with less dysregulation of positive emotion. Conclusion Emotion beliefs are an important mechanism associated with dysregulation of both negative and positive emotion. Positive emotions play a complex role in dysregulation, influenced by cognitive (controllability and usefulness beliefs) and behavioral factors (NSSI), underscoring the need for future research to explore dysregulation of both negative and positive emotions to improve emotional well-being. Highlights Emotion experiences, beliefs, and NSSI are linked toand positive and negative emotion dysregulation. Extended emotions responses are linked to dysregulation only in the context of believing emotions areuncontrollable. Similar emotion beliefs relate differently to experiences and dysregulation depending on NSSI status.

Background Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States. Timely suicide-related disclosure may be a gateway to life-saving interventions and support, yet little is known about how adolescents interpret the specific responses they receive after disclosing suicide ideation (SI) or suicide attempts (SAs). Existing research has relied heavily on self-report surveys and has not captured the concrete verbal, emotional, and behavioral reactions adolescents perceive as supportive or unsupportive. This study addresses this gap by qualitatively exploring adolescents’ recalled experiences of disclosure responses from both informal and formal supports. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 82 adolescents (ages 12–19 years) who presented for clinical care related to SI or SA within the prior two weeks. Interviews drew from the Adolescent Suicide Ideation Interview and probed disclosure decisions and perceived reactions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns in supportive and unsupportive responses. Results Analysis revealed a range of supportive (i.e., Providing Guidance and Supportive Action, Shared Emotional Experiences, Encouragement and Affirmation, Engagement and Communication, and Physical Presence and Comfort) and unsupportive (i.e., Forcible or Coercive Action, Minimizing or Dismissing Concerns, Blame and Guilt-Inducing Responses, and Anger and Hostile Reactions) disclosure responses. Conclusions Supportive responses fostered safety and willingness to seek help, while unsupportive responses contributed to emotional distress and the desire to conceal in the future. Findings highlight the importance of caregiver and peer responses following suicide-related disclosure and suggest opportunities for interventions in crisis settings to enhance the disclosure experience.

Background: Stressful Life Events (SLEs) during adolescence are linked to a higher risk of suicidal behavior and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, the specific impact of each type of SLE has been under-researched. Socio-emotional strengths, including belief in self, belief in others, Emotional Competence, and Engaged Living, are key promotive factors for mental health and may mitigate the impact of SLEs on suicidal behavior and NSSI. This study aims to systematically explore the potential indirect effects of socio-emotional strengths in the relationship between SLEs over the past year, grouped by functional areas, and indicators of suicidal behavior and NSSI. Method: 2,283 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years (M = 13.99; SD = 1.40) participated in the study, completing scales on SLEs, socio-emotional strengths, and suicidal behavior and NSSI reported over the past year. Results: From the sample, 13.4% of participants reported suicidal desire, 10.5% suicidal ideation, 6.6% NSSI, 5.5% suicide planning, and 2.2% suicide attempts. In the main analyses, Suicidal Behavior (Death Wishes, Ideation, Plans, Attempts) and NSSI were modeled separately. Belief-in-Self and Engaged Living were negatively associated with both outcomes, while Emotional Competence showed a small positive link with suicidal behavior. Peer and Health-Related SLEs had direct effects on both suicidal behavior and NSSI. Indirect effects emerged through Belief-in-Self and Engaged Living. Conclusions: Socio-emotional strengths may play a protective and mediating role in the association between SLEs and Suicidal Behaviors and NSSI in adolescents. Findings highlight the relevance of targeting these strengths in school-based prevention efforts.

Background Although the risks associated with non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH) have been widely described in the literature, evidence remains fragmented regarding how these risks are understood and managed by individuals with lived experience. Objective Our systematic review aimed to identify the risks perceived by those who engage in NSSH and the risk management strategies they utilized. Methods We searched five databases and performed a quality assessment and meta-synthesis of qualitative findings. We summarized the quantitative findings from one study because a narrative synthesis was not feasible. Results We included 37 eligible studies (n = 34 qualitative only; n = 3 mixed methods), with only one presenting quantitative findings. Our meta-synthesis of qualitative findings highlighted three overarching themes: (1) Physical risks: understanding and managing injuries; (2) Interpersonal risks: impacts of and responses to self-harm; (3) Intrapersonal risks: a personal assessment. Individuals who self-harm showed a nuanced understanding of all overarching risks. Management strategies included damage limitation and concealment of scars. The perceived utility of risk management strategies varied from useful to counterproductive. Quantitative findings from one study showed that users of online self-harm communities perceive similar physical and interpersonal risks, including fears of judgment and stigma. Conclusion Views on self-harm risk management strategies were mixed. Incorporating lived experience perspectives can promote person-centered care for NSSH, enhancing peer support interventions and collaborative clinician-patient risk management plans.

This prospective longitudinal study examined associations between Dark Triad traits and suicidal ideation through interpersonal pathways among Chinese university students (N = 2,018 across three waves), guided by the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS). Analyses revealed distinct patterns: Machiavellianism showed positive associations with suicidal ideation through thwarted belongingness, while psychopathy was positively linked to suicidal ideation via both thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Narcissism demonstrated negative associations with suicidal ideation through reduced thwarted belongingness. Gender differences emerged prominently, with perceived burdensomeness serving as a more salient pathway between psychopathy and suicidal ideation for women, whereas thwarted belongingness was more strongly associated with Machiavellianism and narcissism for men. These findings, observed in a collectivistic cultural context, extend the ITS by demonstrating how personality traits may differentially relate to suicide risk through gender-specific interpersonal mechanisms. The results suggest the potential value of tailored prevention approaches with particular attention to burden-related concerns for women and belongingness-focused strategies for men—while highlighting the need for further research to examine these associations across diverse populations.

Objective The Looming Vulnerability Model suggests that rapidly approaching or increasing threats, like visual looming stimuli, can potentially contribute suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study investigates the neurobiological basis of this theory in suicide attempters, focusing on the EEG power spectrum. Methods In a case-control design, participants completed a visual Looming task involving threatening and neutral stimuli during EEG neuroimaging. The final sample included 15 participants with recent suicide attempts and major depressive disorder (SA+MDD), 19 participants with major depressive disorder (MDD), and 18 Healthy Controls (HC). EEG absolute power was calculated and group differences were analyzed using ANOVA with post-hoc tests. Results Participants in the SA+MDD group showed significantly greater delta band power in frontopolar regions (AF3, Fp2, Fpz) compared to HC under both task conditions. Theta band power over the right frontal cortex during both conditions differentiated SA+MDD from MDD participants, while increased beta synchronization in the right premotor area distinguished SA+MDD from both MDD and HC, particularly during trials with neutral stimuli. Additionally, gamma band desynchronization to threatening stimuli was observed in SA+MDD compared to MDD. Conclusions The findings support a link between electrophysiological responses to looming stimuli and recent suicide attempts. Increased delta and theta power may reflect heightened emotional processing and sensitivity to threat or pain, while elevated beta activity may indicate increased demands on motor inhibition. Gamma desynchronization may reflect a residual vulnerability to suicidal behavior in the aftermath of a recent attempt.

Objective To Quantify the risk of suicide following self-harm within the various healthcare settings to which patients present to help understand the risk factors involved. Method A matched case-control study using electronic records for primary care, secondary care (hospitals) and national mortality registries in England between 2001–2019 (N = 594674). Cases with a death attributed to suicide were compared with a randomly selected control population. Results The one-year suicide risk, adjusted for age and sex, was higher after recorded self-harm in primary care (odds ratio OR: 83, 95% confidence intervals CI: 76–91) and secondary care data (OR 124; 95% CI: 111–138) compared to those with no self-harm records. Suicide risk was highest in the first month after self-harm in primary care (OR 310; 95% CI: 244–393) and secondary care data (OR 458; 95% CI: 331–633). Suicide risk increased with the number of self-harm admissions in the final year (OR for patients with ≥3 self-harm attempts 505; 95% CI: 227–1123: p < 0.0001 for trend). While suicide risk following self-harm was increased across all age-groups and sexes, it was higher in females and older individuals compared to their counterparts with no self-harm records (p < 0.05). Conclusion In both the primary care and secondary care datasets, the one-year relative suicide risk following self-harm was high, which is consistent with previous studies. The increased risk of suicide mortality following self-harm in older individuals and females may inform risk-stratification after a self-harm event.

Objective Insomnia and nightmares have been identified as significant predictors of suicidal ideation (SI), but the specific psychological processes underlying this relationship remain unclear. The current study aimed to examine the insomnia/nightmares-SI relationship, concerning the mediating role of defeat and entrapment according to the integrated motivational-volitional (IMV) model in the Iranian population. Methods Participants (N = 459) completed a self-report survey assessing insomnia/nightmare symptoms, feelings of entrapment and defeat, and SI. Path analysis was conducted to evaluate the mediating effect of defeat and entrapment on the association between insomnia/nightmares and SI. Results Findings indicated that insomnia/nightmare symptoms were correlated with SI. Moreover, findings demonstrated that entrapment mediated the relationship between insomnia ( β = 0.03, p = 0.001 ) /nightmares ( β = 0.24, p < 0.072 ) and SI. Additionally, insomnia ( β = 0.07, p = 0.001 ) and nightmares ( β = 0.04, p = 0.022 ) had indirect effect on SI through defeat. Conclusion The findings offer new insights into the psychological mechanisms linking insomnia/nightmare symptoms and SI by highlighting the role of defeat and entrapment. However, the complicated relationship between sleep disturbances and SI warrants further examination through longitudinal studies. Such studies are crucial for developing targeted interventions to prevent the emergence of SI in individuals who suffer from sleep disturbances.

Objective Suicide is the leading cause of death on the railway networks, yet little is known about the geography and socio-environmental determinants of such deaths in England. Method We analyzed official records of all suspected suicides recorded on England’s mainline railway from April 2019 to March 2021 (N = 436), alongside area-level data (e.g., deprivation and urbanicity) and railway characteristics (e.g., station size). We used SaTScan’s Poisson discrete scan statistic to detect spatial–temporal clusters and compared suicides at station and non-station locations, including stations with no recorded suicides over the study period. Results Most railway suicides—particularly those occurring at stations—took place in urban areas, typically at locations with a very low incidence of previous suicides. A large majority (84.5%) lived within 2 miles of a station and died close to home (median 2.1 miles) or their last known location (1.5 miles). Suicides occurred most often at stations (43.3%), followed by trackside locations (37.6%), foot/level crossing (15.1%) or other rail areas (3.9%). These were often not the nearest station to the deceased (59.6%), but were generally smaller and more likely to be served by fast/non-stopping trains. Across the network, stations without suicides were far less likely to be served by such trains (66% vs. 94.3%; OR = 6.62, 95% CI 3.33–13.18). Conclusions Urbanicity and the availability of non-stopping train services are key predictors of railway suicide. Restricting access to high-speed trains—especially at smaller urban stations and at non-station locations—could be an effective element of broader strategies and local partnership approaches to prevent suicide.

Objective Sexual minority young adults (SM-YAs) experience high rates of interpersonal discrimination, which increases their risk of suicidal ideation. However, little is known about the mechanisms that underly this association. According to the Anxiety Buffer Disruption Theory (ABDT) exposure to interpersonal discrimination can influence the development of a negative social worldview (i.e., antagonistic perceptions of others and the future of society) leading to the onset and maintenance of suicidal ideation. We aimed to test the utility of ABDT in articulating the association between exposure to interpersonal discrimination and suicidal ideation by examining the mediating role of negative social worldview. Method Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling with 3 waves of data from a national sample of 670 SM-YAs aged 18 to 26 at baseline. Results Analyses largely supported the proposed model. T1 interpersonal discrimination was directly associated with increases in both T2 negative social worldviews and T3 suicidal ideation. T2 negative social worldviews was also directly associated with increased T3 suicidal ideation. T1 exposure to interpersonal discrimination was indirectly associated with increased T3 suicidal ideation via increases in T2 negative social worldviews. Conclusions Study results suggest that clinical and preventive interventions for suicidal ideation should target the influence of discriminatory experiences and the negative social worldviews they induce.