The prediction of suicide

Abstract

The prediction of suicide remalns a major challenge for health professionals. Sociodemographic predictors of the risk of suicide lack specificity: factors such as living alone, being unemployed, or having a physical or mental iliness are common, separately or in combination, but suicide is rare. Psychiatric conditions, such as depression, alcohol dependence, schizophrenia and personality disorders, are strongly associated with sUicide, but most psychiatrically ill patients do not suicide. Most suicidal patients consult a helping agency within a month of their act and, in practice, successful assessment of the risk of suicide and intervention to prevent it depend on gaining an understanding of the individual patient and developing a therapeutic relationship. More research into the biological, psychological and social factors that distinguish suicidal from non-suicidal individuals Is needed. We review key studies that have addressed the issue of suicide prediction, outline the clinician's role in evaluating the risk of suicide In the individual, and suggest directions for future research. (Med J Aust 1990; 153: 552-554)

The social network of people who attempt suicide

“…It is important to have social contacts and close friends, i.e. people who can give a helping hand or advice, as well as people to trust (11)(12)(13). Lack of social support is one of the suicide risk factors in the SAD PERSONS scale (14).…”

Analysis of Suicidal Patients Admitted to The Emergency Rooms and Their Intensive Care Requirements, A Double-Center Study in Turkey

“…Similarly, in the present study, the number of suicide attempts were higher in women than in men and 1 person who died due to a suicide attempt was male. Also, being single acts as a risk factor for a suicide attempt (9). Consistently, it was found that suicide attempts were higher in singles.…”

Do nations' mental health policies, programs and legislation influence their suicide rates? An ecological study of 100 countries

“…The influence of substance abuse as a risk factor has been shown to vary with disorder type, age and sex. For example, illicit drug abuse heightens the risk of suicide for young men, licit drug addiction enhances the risk for young women and alcoholism increases the risk for older men [17,18]. It is often regarded as a distal or long‐term risk factor, but can also be considered to heighten suicide risk proximally or in the short term (e.g.…”