Psychosocial and clinical correlates of suicidal acts: results from a national population survey.
BACKGROUND
Clinical samples have identified a number of psychosocial risk factors for suicidal acts but it is unclear if these findings relate to the general population.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of and psychosocial risk factors for suicidal acts in a general adult population.


METHODS
Data were obtained from a Canadian epidemiological survey of 36,984 respondents aged 15 years and older (weighted sample n=23,662,430).


RESULTS
Of these respondents, 0.6% (weighted n=130,143) endorsed a 12-month suicidal act. Female gender (OR=4.27, 95% CI 4.05-4.50), being separated (OR=37.88, 95% CI 33.92-42.31) or divorced (OR=7.79, 95% CI 7.22-8.41), being unemployed (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.50-1.80), experiencing a chronic physical health condition (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.67-1.86) and experiencing a major depressive episode in the same 12-month period as the act (OR=9.10, 95% CI 8.65-9.59) were significantly associated with a suicidal act.


CONCLUSIONS
The psychosocial correlates of suicidal acts in this sample are consistent with those previously reported in clinical and general population samples. These findings reinforce the importance of the determination of suicide risk and its prevention not only of psychiatric illness but of physical and psychosocial factors as well.
Blackmore
Emma Robertson
ER
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Centre, Rochester, NY 14642-8409, USA. emma_robertsonblackmore@urmc.rochester.edu
Munce
Sarah
S
Weller
Iris
I
Zagorski
Brandon
B
Stansfeld
Stephen A
SA
Stewart
Donna E
DE
Caine
Eric D
ED
Conwell
Yeates
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012067:Religion; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors