ObjectivesInterpersonal factors play an important role in the etiology and treatment of depression. Social support derives from compassionate words and helpful actions provided by family, friends or a significant other. The present study was designed to examine various sources of social support as they relate to the severity of depressive symptoms, hopelessness and suicide risk in adult psychiatric outpatients.MethodParticipants were recruited through mental health clinics at a veteran's affairs medical centre. A total of 96 depressed patients were assessed using a diagnostic interview and self‐report measures of depression severity, hopelessness and social support. Among these depressed adults, 45.8% had attempted suicide at least once. Social support variables were compared between suicide attempters and non‐attempters to better understand the relationship between social support and suicidal behaviour.ResultsDepression severity and hopelessness were both significantly associated with lower levels of social support in multiple areas. Individuals with a history of suicide attempt reported lower levels of available support as compared to those who have never attempted suicide.ConclusionDeficient social relationships increase the risk of suicide in depressed patients, exceeding the impact of depression alone on suicide risk. The lack of social support may play a vital role in feelings of hopelessness and isolation that contribute to a suicidal crisis. Psychosocial treatment should be considered to reduce the risk of suicide and severity of depression by strengthening social support and bolstering interpersonal relationships.

IntroductionSuicide premeditation is a critical factor to consider when assessing suicide risk. Understanding which individuals are more or less likely to plan their suicidal behavior can shed light on how suicidal thoughts turn into actions.MethodThe present study used psychological autopsy data to identify factors associated with level of premeditation among 131 adults who died by suicide.ResultsLogistic regression analyses indicated that suicide decedents with higher premeditation scores had higher odds of being diagnosed with a depressive disorder and choosing a violent suicide method, specifically a firearm. Individuals with lower premeditation scores had higher odds of being diagnosed with a polysubstance use disorder.ConclusionSuicide decedents exhibiting greater premeditation before their deaths were different in several ways from suicide decedents exhibiting less premeditation. A better understanding of suicide premeditation can ultimately aid in the development of improved risk assessments and targeted safety interventions for those struggling with suicidal thoughts.