Prevalence Of Suicide Attempts Research Articles

Self-Harm Among 17-Year-Old Adolescents With/Without Disabilities in the United Kingdom.

Background: Self-harm is a critical public health issue for adolescents/young adults. Aims: To estimate the prevalence of self-harm among adolescents with/without disabilities in the United Kingdom. Method: Secondary analysis of data collected at age 17 in the UK's Millennium Cohort Study. Results: Prevalence of self-harm was significantly greater among adolescents with disabilities for suicide attempts and six forms of self-harming behaviors. The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts was 5.3% (4.5-6.3) among adolescents without disabilities, 21.9% (18.2-26.2) among adolescents with less limiting disabilities, and 25.5% (17.2-35.9) among adolescents with more limiting disabilities. Adjusted prevalence rate ratios ranged from 5.13 (3.58-7.36) for those with mental health limitations to 1.48 (0.65-3.35) for those with mobility limitations. Similar patterns were observed for the 12-month prevalence of six self-harming behaviors. Limitations: Further studies are needed to identify potential mediators of the association between disability and self-harm that are potentially modifiable. Conclusion: Adolescents with disabilities are at markedly greater probability of suicide attempts and self-harming behaviors than their peers.

Mental health outcomes and suicidality in hospitalized transgender adolescents: A propensity score-matched Cross-sectional analysis of the National inpatient sample 2016–2018

Transgender adolescents have unique mental health needs. This demographic has increased rates of mood disorders, anxiety, and depression compared to their cisgender peers. Large-scale studies focused on mental health outcomes, including suicidality, in the transgender adolescent population remain unknown. This study tries to fill these gaps in the literature.Data for this study was taken from the National Inpatient Sample 2016–2018. Transgender adolescents were identified using the ICD-10 codes related to transsexualism diagnoses. These individuals were compared to adolescents without transsexualism diagnoses. To mitigate imbalances in baseline characteristics, we utilized a 1:2 nearest neighbor propensity score matching with a caliper width of 0.0001, considering variables such as age, year of hospitalization, and psychiatric disorders. Following propensity score matching, the study cohort comprised 2635 transgender and 5270 non-transgender adolescents (Mean age 15.2 years). The transgender group demonstrated a notably higher prevalence of mood disorders (91%) and anxiety disorders (65%). Furthermore, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was significantly higher in the transgender group (52.4% vs. 39.2%, p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of suicide attempts between the groups. After controlling for psychiatric comorbidities, age, and gender, the odds ratio for the composite outcome of suicidal ideation or attempt was 1.99 (95% CI 1.58–2.12, p < 0.001).Our study identifies elevated mood and anxiety disorders and suicidality rates in hospitalized transgender adolescents compared to cisgender peers. Mood disorders notably amplify the risk of suicidal attempts. These findings urgently call for targeted mental health interventions and policy changes to serve this vulnerable population in healthcare settings better.

Prevalence of suicide attempt and associations with deliberate self-harm, mental health problems, drug misuse and traumatic experiences - a cross sectional survey of the Norwegian population

BackgroundMonitoring self-reported suicide attempts (SA) with nationally representative surveys is important to initiate suicide prevention strategies. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of SA and compare deliberate self-harm, (DSH), mental health, drug misuse and traumas between SA and non-suicide attempters (NSA).MethodsIn this cross-sectional survey of a representative sample (N=1757) of the Norwegian population, we compared people with self-reported SA (n=54) to NSA (n=1703) regarding sociodemographic data, mental health problems, drug misuse and exposure to trauma.ResultsThe prevalence of SA was 3.1 %. There was a higher proportion of welfare recipients and more deliberate self-harm, mental health problems, drug misuse and traumas in the SA group compared to NSA.ConclusionThis national study confirms the association between suicide attempt and deliberate self-harm, mental health problems, drug misuse and traumas.

Prevalence and risk factors of suicide attempts among Chinese elderly patients over 50 years with schizophrenia.

Several research efforts have found that older schizophrenia patients are at higher risk for suicide. Related risk factors for suicide attempts in the elderly with schizophrenia are poorly understood. This study sought to assess the prevalence of suicide attempts and related risk variables in schizophrenia patients over the age of 50. We recruited 591 elderly patients over the age of 50. Demographic, clinical and blood parameters of all patients were collected. Patients with schizophrenia were evaluated for psychopathological symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The rate of suicide attempts among elderly Chinese schizophrenia patients was 15.2%. In these elderly schizophrenia patients, those who with suicide attempts had significantly higher scores for insomnia, depression and smoking addiction, and higher levels of red blood cells, Hc1 glycosylated hemoglobin and free T3, but significantly lower levels of hypersensitive C-reactive protein and -globulin. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that higher depression scores and smoking addiction were risk factors for suicide attempts in these patients. Additionally, multiple regression analyses showed that higher BMI and insomnia scores were associated with suicide risk scores in elderly schizophrenia patients. Our research shows that there is a high incidence of suicide attempts in people over 50 years of age with schizophrenia. A number of clinically relevant factors and metabolic markers are associated with suicide attempts among elderly patients with schizophrenia.

Network analysis of depression, cognitive functions, and suicidal ideation in patients with diabetes: an epidemiological study in Iran.

The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and previous suicide attempts among Iranian patients diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes (T1D) and Type-2 diabetes (T2D). Additionally, the study sought to estimate the network structure of depressive symptoms and cognitive functions. 1073 patients participated in the current study. We used Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Ask Suicide-Screening Questionnaire, diabetes-related factors, and a battery of cognitive functions tasks to estimate network structures. Also, suicidal ideations and suicide attempts prevalence have been estimated. Statistical analyses were performed using R-studio software, including mixed-graphical models (MGMs) for undirected effects and Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) for directed effects. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 29.97% in T1D and 26.81% in T2D (p < 0.05). The history of suicide attempts was higher in T1D (10.78%) compared to T2D (8.36%) (p < 0.01). In the MRF networks for T1D, suicidal ideation was directly linked to 'feeling guilt (PHQ.6)', 'Suicide (PHQ.9)', HbA1c, and FBS, while the Inhibition node was directly related to suicidal ideation. The DAGs suggested connections between 'depression', HbA1c, and 'inhibition' with suicidal ideation, along with a link between the current family history of suicide attempts and the patient's history of suicide attempts. For T2D, the MRF networks indicated direct links between suicidal ideation and 'anhedonia (PHQ.1)', 'suicide (PHQ.9)', age, being female, and BMI, with inhibition also being directly related to suicidal ideation. The DAGs revealed connections between 'depression', age, and 'inhibition' with suicidal ideation, as well as links between being female or single/divorced and the patient's history of suicide attempts. The findings suggest that suicide ideation is highly prevalent in patients with diabetes, and these symptoms should be carefully monitored in these patients.

Divergent suicidal symptomatic activations converge on somato-cognitive action network in depression

Individuals with depression have the highest lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts (SA) among mental illnesses. Numerous neuroimaging studies have developed biomarkers from task-related neural activation in depressive patients with SA, but the findings are inconsistent. Empowered by the contemporary interconnected view of depression as a neural system disorder, we sought to identify a specific brain circuit utilizing published heterogeneous neural activations. We systematically reviewed all published cognitive and emotional task-related functional MRI studies that investigated differences in the location of neural activations between depressive patients with and without SA. We subsequently mapped an underlying brain circuit functionally connecting to each experimental activation using a large normative connectome database (n = 1000). The identified SA-related functional network was compared to the network derived from the disease control group. Finally, we decoded this convergent functional connectivity network using microscale transcriptomic and chemo-architectures, and macroscale psychological processes. We enrolled 11 experimental tasks from eight studies, including depressive patients with SA (n = 147) and without SA (n = 196). The heterogeneous SA-related neural activations localized to the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN), exhibiting robustness to little perturbations and specificity for depression. Furthermore, the SA-related functional network was colocalized with brain-wide gene expression involved in inflammatory and immunity-related biological processes and aligned with the distribution of the GABA and noradrenaline neurotransmitter systems. The findings demonstrate that the SA-related functional network of depression is predominantly located at the SCAN, which is an essential implication for understanding depressive patients with SA.

Suicide death, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Diabetes has been indicated to be a risk factor for suicide. We aim to estimate the prevalence of suicide in patients with diabetes. A meta-analysis using PRISMA methodology was adopted to examine the incidence of suicide in diabetic patients. From inception to October 2022, three online databases (PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science) were used to search studies. We used random-effects model to analysis. And our primary outcome was the incidence of suicide death per 100 person-years, and other outcomes were prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. To explore the sources of heterogeneity in our study, we performed subgroup and meta-regression analyses. The suicide death rate in diabetic patients was 0.027 per 100 person-years, with a higher rate for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus compared to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in diabetes patients was 0.175, with a higher prevalence in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus compared to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The prevalence of suicide attempts in diabetes patients was 0.033, indicating a higher rate for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus compared to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. The results indicate a high rate of suicide among people with diabetes, and this study identifies populations and regions at high risk for suicide. Our review emphasizes interventions in mental health and the improvement of suicide prevention programmes. The study investigated suicide death, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in diabetic individuals. Suicide rates are elevated among diabetic patients, and various patient groups face distinct suicide risks. It is important to prioritize the mental well-being of diabetic individuals and enhance interventions, including personalized approaches, to inform public health efforts aimed at preventing and addressing suicide among diabetic patients. No patient or public involvement.

Gender differences in prevalence and clinical risk factors of suicide attempts in young adults with first-episode drug-naive major depressive disorder.

Suicide rates in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) change with age and gender. Early adulthood is an important transitional stage between late adolescence and adulthood, in which an individual's mind gradually matures. However, there are fewer studies on prevalence and variables linked to the suicide attempts of young adults with MDD. To explore gender differences in the prevalence and risk factors associated with suicide attempts in young adults with first-episode drug-naive MDD. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA) and Positive Subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to assess depression, anxiety and psychotic symptoms respectively and various biochemical indicators were assessed. Among 293 young adults with first-episode drug-naive MDD, the prevalence of suicide attempts was 15.45% (19/123) for males and 14.12% (24/170) for females. Males with suicide attempts had higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and higher PANSS Positive Subscale scores, whereas females with suicide attempts had higher TSH, serum total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and diastolic blood pressure levels and higher scores on the HRSD, HRSA, PANSS Positive Subscale (all Bonferroni corrected P < 0.05). In males, PANSS Positive Subscale score (B = 0.17, P = 0.03, OR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.02-1.38) was a risk factor for suicide attempts. There were significant gender differences in the risk factors for suicide attempts in young adults with first-episode drug-naive MDD.

Gender differences in risk factors for suicide attempts among young, first-episode and drug-naive major depressive disorder patients with anxiety symptoms.

Suicide attempts and anxiety are common commodities in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and suicide attempts are often associated with anxiety symptoms. Studies have found gender differences in several aspects of MDD; however, gender differences in suicide attempts in young first-episode and drug-naive (FEDN) MDD patients with anxiety remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate potential gender differences in the prevalence of suicide attempts and associated risk factors among young FEDN MDD patients with anxiety in a Chinese Han population. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1289 young patients with FEDN MDD. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and biochemical parameters of patients were collected. Suicide attempters accounted for 23.80% and 26.12% of male and female FEDN MDD patients with anxiety, respectively, with no significant gender differences. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that anxiety, clinical global impression severity, and thyroid peroxidase antibody significantly predicted suicide attempts in both male and female FEDN MDD patients with anxiety, while body mass index significantly predicted suicide attempts only in males, and psychotic symptoms predicted suicide attempts only in females. The present study represents the first large-scale investigation of gender differences in the prevalence of suicide attempts and related risk factors among young FEND MDD patients with anxiety in the Chinese Han population. The results indicate that risk factors associated with suicide attempts vary by gender among young FEND MDD patients with anxiety, although a comparable rate of suicide attempts was observed in both female and male patients.

PREVALENCE AND INDICATIVE CORRELATES OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG INSCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN SAINT LUCIA

Among adolescents, it is estimated that for every suicide, there are 100–200 suicide attempts, with rates varying by country due to local or individual factors. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and correlates of suicide attempts among in-school adolescents in Saint Lucia using data from the 2018 Global School-based Health Survey. The study included 1,970 in-school teenagers aged 13-18 years. Multi-binomial logistic regression was used to determine predictors of suicide attempts with adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The prevalence of suicide attempts among inschool teenagers in Saint Lucia was 16.2%. Factors associated with suicide attempts included being female (AOR 3.001, 95% CI 2.026-4.445), being physically attacked (AOR 0.573, 95% CI 0.388- 0.846), feeling lonely (AOR 0.447, 95% CI 0.294-0.678), worrying and sleeplessness (AOR 0.542, 95% CI 0.336-0.875), and having made suicide plans (AOR 0.051, 95% CI 0.035-0.073).

A hierarchical analysis of associated factors to lifetime suicide attempts in alcohol use disorder.

Substance use is strongly associated with suicide attempts throughout life. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of suicide attempts (SA) and associated factors in life in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The sample consisted of 424 men with AUD who underwent treatment at the Addiction Psychiatry Unit of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The clinical evaluation included the Addiction Severity Index, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Variables that showed p-value < 0.05 in the bivariate analyses were included in a hierarchical regression model with robust variance to investigate associations with SA in life via estimation of adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PR). The lifetime prevalence of SA among alcohol users was 36.6%. Patients with childhood maltreatment, borderline personality disorder, and higher impulsivity scores had a higher lifetime prevalence of SA. Our findings indicate that male inpatient alcoholics present an important prevalence of SA. The study also corroborates the relationship between maltreatment, impulsivity, and borderline personality disorder with SA among inpatients in treatment for AUD.

Conséquences à l’adolescence des violences sexuelles dans l’enfance : penser le repérage au cours de l’hospitalisation pédopsychiatrique des adolescents

IntroductionFew studies have systematically searched for a history of sexual violence in adolescents with severe psychiatric disorders hospitalized in departments of child psychiatry. Here, we present the results of a retrospective study conducted on the records of all adolescents hospitalized in a child psychiatry department in the Seine Saint-Denis department between 2017 and 2021. Study objectivesThe aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of Antecedents of Sexual Aggression (AAS) in adolescents hospitalized in child psychiatry departments and to attempt to describe chronological and symptomatological links between these antecedents and hospitalization in child psychiatry, with the aim of proposing possible screening and management recommendations. Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective study based on analysis of the medical records of 141 adolescents hospitalized in a child psychiatry department between 2017 and 2021. ResultsBy recalling the epidemiology of sexual aggression in childhood and adolescence (frequent, involving both boys and girls, in a third of cases intrafamilial, and in about half of the situations uncrushed and unaccompanied) our study underlines the importance of their detection by physicians and caregivers. The significantly higher prevalence of suicide attempts and self-harm should draw particular attention to the risk of a history of sexual assault, as these symptoms are strongly associated in our study. The significantly higher prevalence of depression and borderline personality disorder may provide a better understanding of the repercussions of sexual assault in adolescence. The short delay between the sexual assault and its disclosure in our observation, and the fact that most disclosures of intra-family sexual assaults were made during hospitalization, underline the value of systematic hospitalization of adolescents, particularly after a suicide attempt. The reassuring environment of hospitalization may encourage a more rapid disclosure of sexual assault, and thus lessen its devastating psychic effects during adolescence. A potential weakness of our study is that, even in a specialized service, such antecedents are probably still undervalued and insufficiently noted in medical records. More attention should certainly be paid during child psychiatric interviews to any history of sexual assault. Nevertheless, given the scarcity of systematic studies on the subject, this study paves the way for prospective studies. Recommendations can also be made for less serious situations, with no proven psychiatric disorders, but following a suicide attempt. In such cases, the patient could be hospitalized in a pediatric ward, with appropriate psychological support, rather than in a child psychiatry ward. Regardless of where adolescents who have attempted suicide are psychologically cared for, greater attention needs to be paid to any history of sexual aggression, so as to identify it as early as possible, provide secondary prevention and avoid the psychic deterioration of the adolescent process which would be weakened as a result.

Depression, suicide attempts, and exposure to physical attacks: a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Mexico

Abstract Aim This study investigated the relationship between direct exposure to physical attacks and mental health (depression and suicide attempts) in the Mexican adult population. It also examined biological sex as a possible effect modifier. Subject and methods A representative sample of 13,391 adults from the 2021 National Health and Nutrition Survey of Mexico (ENSANUT) was analyzed. Poisson regressions were used to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios. Results Victims of physical violence more than doubled the prevalence of depression (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.59, 95% CI 2.11–3.19) and more than sextupled the prevalence of suicide attempts (adjusted prevalence ratio = 6.67, 95% CI 3.25–13.69) compared to non-victims. Sex was not a significant effect modifier. Conclusion Direct exposure to physical attacks is associated with a higher prevalence of depression and suicide attempts in the Mexican adult population. The impact of attacks on these mental health outcomes is similar in men and women.

Suicidality among university students in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A systematic review.

The prevalence of suicide attempts and suicidal ideation among university students is a global concern. Cultural values, social determinants, religion, and especially growing stress all play an important role in this. This systematic review aimed to identify potential protective and risk factors thought to be associated with suicidal ideation among students in the Eastern Mediterranean region and highlight the importance of developing an effective health care response. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, WHO Global Health Library, IMEMR, Web of Science Core Collections and Farsi and Arabic databases were searched for papers in English, Farsi, and Arabic. A combination of validated filters, free text keywords, and Mesh and Non-Mesh terms were used to retrieve relevant literature. A total of 2774 papers were found after the search, 257 selected for full-text review, and 72 papers included in the final review. Family and peer support play a potential protective role in the development of suicidal ideation among university students, while adverse life events, bullying, depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions were identified as risk factors. Suicidality was likely under-reported due to stigma around social and cultural factors. Factors involving religion and culture may act as both protective and risk factors and require more in-depth investigation. The student population in the Eastern Mediterranean region face many challenges. The common theme of suicidality emerged as an indicator of an imbalance of resources and stress, which needs to be addressed proactively, given a most likely underreporting of suicidal ideation and attempts due to stigma.

Sex differences in prevalence and clinical correlates of suicide attempts in first-episode and drug-naïve patients with anxious depression in a Chinese Han population: A large-scale cross-sectional study

BackgroundsAnxious depression (AD) has been extensively studied. However, fewer studies have examined sex differences in the prevalence of suicide attempts among AD patients. This study aimed to explore sex differences in suicide attempts and risk factors in patients with AD. Methods1380 first episode drug-naïve patients with AD were recruited. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were measured using a self-administered demographic questionnaire. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Inventory (HAMA), and positive subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were used to assess patients' clinical symptoms. We also measured the patient's blood glucose, lipids, and thyroid axis hormone levels. ResultsThere were no sex differences in the prevalence of suicide attempts in patients with FEDN anxious depression. In addition, binary logistic regression analysis showed that HAMA score, TSH levels, and TPOAb levels significantly predicted suicide attempts in both male and female patients with AD, while HAMD score significantly predicted suicide attempts in female patients with AD only. ConclusionsThe severity of anxiety and higher levels of TSH and TPOAb were associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts in both male and female patients with AD, whereas the severity of depression was only associated with suicide attempts in females.

Prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder in South Asia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Suicidal ideation and attempts are growing public health concerns globally. Evidence from high-income countries suggests that individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder are at increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts, but there is a scarcity of evidence from South Asia. To estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts in individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder in South Asia. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, four databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, EMBASE and Medline) were searched until December 2022. Pooled prevalence was estimated with random-effects models. Heterogeneity was quantified with the I2-statistic. The pooled sample size across the 21 studies was 3745 participants, 1941 (51.8%) of which were male. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts in South Asian people with either psychosis or bipolar disorder was 22% (95% CI 17-27; n = 15). The pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation with psychosis or bipolar disorder combined was 38% (95% CI 27-51; n = 10). Meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled prevalence estimates for both suicide attempt and ideation remained unaffected by variations in critical appraisal ratings and study designs. Only one study reported data on suicide-related deaths. One in four individuals diagnosed with psychosis or bipolar disorder have reported suicide attempts, whereas up to one in three have experienced suicidal ideation. These findings underscore the urgent need for clinicians to regularly assess and monitor suicidal ideation and attempts among individuals with these disorders in South Asia.

Incidence and Prevalence of Suicide Attempts in Primary Care in Spain

Incidence and Prevalence of Suicide Attempts in Primary Care in Spain

The global prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the global prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among men who have sex with men (MSM) as a systematic review, and meta-analysis.MethodsFor this meta-analysis, a search in four international databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE) was designed, and performed. In the next step, the information extraction checklist was prepared based on the study authors’ opinions, and the quality of the articles was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale (NOS) checklist. Data meta-analysis was performed using STATA16 software with a significance level below 0.05.ResultsThe results showed the prevalence of suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among MSM was 21% (95% CI 17%-26%), and 12% (95% CI 8%-17%), respectively. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation in the population of MSM living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was 40% (95% CI 35%–45%), and the prevalence of suicide attempts among MSM with HIV was 10% (95% CI 1%–27%). The prevalence of suicidal ideation in European MSM, and the prevalence of suicide attempts among American MSM were higher than other MSM in other geographical areas.ConclusionConsidering that the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among these people is many times higher than that among men in the general population, developing programs for the prevention of mental disorders with special attention to suicide is necessary for these people. Screening programs are also recommended for early diagnosis and prevention of suicide among these people.

Risk Factors of Suicide Attempt among Adolescents with Suicide Ideation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries across the Globe

Suicide is a serious public health problem for adolescents. Based on the framework of ideation-to-action, it is important to examine the factors associated with the translation from suicide ideation to suicide attempt. The present study aimed to investigate the risk factors of suicide attempts among adolescents with suicide ideation in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We analyzed data of students aged 12–18 years who participated in the 2009–2013 Global School-based Health Surveys (GSHS) in 39 LMICs. The Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of suicide attempts among participants with suicide ideation, the multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify significant factors associated with suicide attempts among suicide ideators. Among 22,655 adolescents with suicide ideation, 55.1% of them reported having made a suicide attempt in the past year. Loneliness, anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use were risk factors for suicide attempts among suicide ideators. Strategies should be implemented to reduce the likelihood of adolescents acting on their suicidal thoughts, such as community psychological crisis line, school-based mental health and skills training programs, and family support for adolescents with psychological problems.

An exploration of suicidal ideation and attempts, and care use and unmet need among suicide-ideators in a Belgian population study

BackgroundSuicidal ideation, or thinking about death and suicide, is common across all layers of society. The aim of this paper is to add to the understanding of suicidal ideation in the general population, as well as help-seeking behaviors and perceived unmet mental health needs among those who report suicidal thoughts.MethodsThe research is part of a representative population-based survey study of mental wellbeing in Antwerp (Flanders, Belgium) carried out in 2021. A total of 1202 participants between 15 and 80 years old answered the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), and an additional question about suicide plans. Participation was by invitation only and possible online or via a postal paper questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between both current suicidal ideation and self-reported lifetime suicide attempt with the sociodemographic factors age, gender, educational level, origin and financial distress. Moreover, formal care use for mental health was examined among those experiencing suicidal ideation, and logistic regression analyses were used to assess associated sociodemographic factors. Finally, perceived unmet mental health needs were assessed among suicide ideators.ResultsThe point-prevalence of suicidal ideation was 8.6% and was higher among younger age groups and individuals reporting financial distress. The lifetime-prevalence of suicide attempts is 6.5% and was higher in younger people and individuals with a primary educational level and with financial distress. About half (45.6%) of those with suicidal ideation consulted a professional for mental health problems in the past twelve months. Men and those with a primary educational level were less likely to seek help. Half of suicide ideators without care use perceived some need for mental health care, and a third of suicide ideators who used care perceived the obtained help as insufficient, resulting in a population prevalence of 3.6% suicide ideators with a fully or partially perceived unmet need.ConclusionsThe prevalence of suicide attempts, suicidal ideation and unmet needs among suicide-ideators is high in this Belgian sample. Mental health care need perception in suicide ideators needs further investigation.