Resources for Those Affected by Suicide

Articles

Suicide has emerged as a major cause of death from non-communicable disease worldwide, leading to a burgeoning interest in its prevention. Naturally, in this context one of the focuses of research and clinical interest is the presence of suicidal thinking—a potentially identifiable and reversible precursor of suicide—with much interest lately being in the relation between suicidal thinking and suicidal behavior. Thinking about suicidal thinking, The Lancet Psychiatry, Volume 7, Issue 11, 2020.

There is a commonly held perception in psychology that enquiring about suicidality, either in research or clinical settings, can increase suicidal tendencies. While the potential vulnerability of participants involved in psychological research must be addressed, apprehensions about conducting studies of suicidality create a Catch-22 situation for researchers. Ethics committees require evidence that proposed studies will not cause distress or suicidal ideation, yet a lack of published research can mean allaying these fears is difficult. Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? What is the evidence?, Psychological Medicine, 44(16), 2014.

Suicide and self-harm are major health and societal issues worldwide, but the greatest burden of both behaviours occurs in low-income and middle-income countries. Although rates of suicide are higher in male than in female individuals, self-harm is more common in female individuals. Rather than having a single cause, suicide and self-harm are the result of a complex interplay of several factors that occur throughout the life course, and vary by gender, age, ethnicity, and geography. Suicide and self-harm, The Lancet, Volume 399, Issue 10338, 2022.

There is a commonly held perception in psychology that enquiring about suicidality, either in research or clinical settings, can increase suicidal tendencies. While the potential vulnerability of participants involved in psychological research must be addressed, apprehensions about conducting studies of suicidality create a Catch-22 situation for researchers. Ethics committees require evidence that proposed studies will not cause distress or suicidal ideation, yet a lack of published research can mean allaying these fears is difficult. Concerns also exist in psychiatric settings where risk assessments are important for ensuring patient safety. But are these concerns based on evidence? Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? What is the evidence? Psychological Medicine, 44(16), 3361-3363, 2014.