Moral objections to suicide and suicidal ideation among mood disordered Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics.
Understanding the beliefs that protect individuals against suicide can help to enhance suicide prevention strategies. One measure of suicide non-acceptability is the moral objections to suicide (MOS) sub-scale of the reasons for living inventory (RFLI). This study examined the MOS and suicidal ideation of White, Black, and Hispanic individuals with mood disorders. We expected minority individuals to have stronger objections to suicide.


METHODS
Eight hundred and four, White (588), Black (122) and Hispanic (94) participants with DSM-IV diagnoses of MDD or bipolar disorder were administered the scale for suicide ideation, the reasons for living inventory and several measures of clinical distress.


RESULTS
Higher suicidal ideation was modestly correlated with lower MOS scores overall (r=0.15, p=0.001). Among Blacks however the relationship was inverted: despite having higher suicidal ideation than Whites or Hispanics, Blacks reported the least accepting attitudes toward suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that attitudes regarding the acceptability of suicide may be independent of suicidal ideation.
Richardson-Vejlgaard
Randall
R
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA. richran@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu
Sher
Leo
L
Oquendo
Maria A
MA
Lizardi
Dana
D
Stanley
Barbara
B
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000941:ethics / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000941:ethics* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American