Rethinking suicide: Why prevention fails, and how we can do better

An examination of how suicide prevention efforts largely fail due to the mistaken assumption that greater mental health awareness is the key to saving lives. Over the last two decades, the US suicide rate has steadily grown despite extensive awareness campaigns, wide implementation of suicide prevention programs and initiatives, and increased mental health advocacy. To […]

Community perspectives on social influences on suicide within a Native American reservation

Relative to the general population, Native Americans (NA) bear a disproportionate burden of suicide-related mortality rates. NA males and females aged 15 to 24 years experience suicide rates nearly 3 times than the U.S. all races rates in this age group. Although efforts have been made to understand and reduce suicide in tribal communities, a […]

Assessment of psychological pain in clinical and non-clinical samples: A preliminary investigation using the psychic pain scale

Psychological pain is an important contributing factor to suicide risk. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Psychic Pain Scale (PPS), a new measure assessing unbearable negative affect as described in Maltsberger’s theory of suicidality. The PPS was administered to n = 131 adult psychiatric patients as well as n = 953 undergraduate students. An initial factor analysis which […]

Where is the social in the biopsychosocial model of suicide prevention?

Background: Each year, around 800,000 people die by suicide. The prevalence of suicidal behaviors is much higher when suicidal attempts and persistent self-injurious ideation are included. Therefore, suicide is a public health concern. Research has been sensitive to this problem, deepening the study of risk factors and the development of theoretical frameworks of suicidal behavior, with […]

Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States

Background University students are increasingly recognized as a vulnerable population, suffering from higher levels of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and disordered eating compared to the general population. Therefore, when the nature of their educational experience radically changes—such as sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic—the burden on the mental health of this vulnerable population is […]

Levels and variables associated with psychological distress during confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic in a community sample of Spanish adults

Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic’s consequences and the state of alarm, literature has shown that people worldwide have experienced severe stressors that have been associated with increased prevalence of emotional distress. In this study, we explored psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms) using an online survey platform in a sample of 1,781 Spanish adults […]

The psychological status of 8817 hospital workers during COVID-19 epidemic: A cross-sectional study in Chongqing

Background There was an outbreak of COVID-19 towards the end of 2019 in China, which spread all over the world rapidly. The Chinese healthcare system is facing a big challenge where hospital workers are experiencing enormous psychological pressure. This study aimed to (1) investigate the psychological status of hospital workers and (2) provide references for […]

Examining the effects of intimate partner violence on psychological distress between genders

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the association of intimate partner violence (IPV) on psychological variables including feelings of hopelessness, suicidal ideation, suicide planning, and past suicide attempts. Research on adult populations suggests a positive correlation between IPV and psychological distress; however, adolescent IPV and its relation to psychological distress remain an understudied […]

The effect of long-term stress on hippocampus and the involvement in the pathophysiological and psychological disorders, suicide, and alcohol use disorder

The hyperactivity of the HPA axis due to long-term stress results in an abnormally high level of glucocorticoids. A limbic system structure, the hippocampus has the highest number of receptor sites for glucocorticoids. Thus, making it highly vulnerable to damage during elevated levels of glucocorticoids, through neurotoxicity and metabolic challenges. In addition, this paper largely […]

Can schools reduce adolescent psychological stress? A multilevel meta-analysis of the effectiveness of school-based intervention programs

Increased levels of psychological stress during adolescence have been associated with a decline in academic performance, school dropout and increased risk of mental health problems. Intervening during this developmental period may prevent these problems. The school environment seems particularly suitable for interventions and over the past decade, various school-based stress reduction programs have been developed. […]

Psychological status of medical workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

The pandemic of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has burdened an unprecedented psychological stress on people around the world, especially the medical workforce. The study focuses on assess the psychological status of them. The authors conducted a single-center, cross-sectional survey via online questionnaires. Occurrence of fear, anxiety and depression were measured by the numeric rating scale […]

Friendship quality and gender differences in association with cyberbullying involvement and psychological well-being

Current literature has documented the detrimental effects of cyberbullying which include a range of internalizing and externalizing problems for those involved. Although critical, this research can sometimes ignore social-ecological aspects of a child’s life that can potentially ‘buffer’ the negative psychological effects of such involvement. With this in mind, this cross-sectional investigation of 12–16 year […]

Delivering a suicide awareness study day to a group of mixed professionals

This paper outlines how a suicide awareness course was set up within the School of Healthcare Science at Bangor University in 2018. It discusses the target group of professionals, course content and includes theories of learning and how this influenced the course content and delivery.

Tolerance for psychological pain and capability for suicide: Contributions to suicidal ideation and behavior

Among people with suicide ideation most do not attempt suicide or die by suicide. In this online study of adult US Facebook users (n=219), we examined capability for suicide, operationalized as fearlessness about death, and tolerance for psychological pain as potential variables that may explain why some people move from suicide ideation to suicidal behavior. […]

To the river: Losing my brother

WINNER OF THE GOVERNOR GENERAL’S LITERARY AWARD FOR NON-FICTION An eloquent and haunting exploration of suicide in which one of Canada’s most gifted writers attempts to understand why his brother took his own life. Which leads him to another powerful question: Why are boomers killing themselves at a far greater rate than the Silent Generation […]

Psychological inflexibility predicts suicidality over time in college students

Objective It is essential to identify modifiable risk factors that can be targeted to reduce suicidal ideation (SI) and behavior in college students. Psychological inflexibility, a pattern of responding to internal experiences in a literal and rigid way, and attempting to control those experiences even when it interferes with valued living, could theoretically lead to […]

Suicidal ideation and behaviour in patients with persecutory delusions: Prevalence, symptom associations, and psychological correlates

Background To determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviour – and their correlates – in patients with persecutory delusions. Methods 110 patients with persecutory delusions in the context of non-affective psychosis were assessed for suicidal thoughts and behaviours over the past month. Symptom and psychological assessments were also completed. Results The severity of suicidal […]

Non-suicidal self-injury in adolescence: Longitudinal associations with psychological distress and rumination

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) constitutes a significant mental health concern that is highly prevalent in adolescence. Theoretical accounts and empirical research suggest that, in the short-term, NSSI may provide instant relief from intense psychological distress and ruminative thoughts. However, much less is known about these associations over time throughout adolescence. Therefore, we designed a three-year longitudinal […]

Socioeconomic inequalities in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours among Indigenous peoples living off-reserve in Canada

BACKGROUND: Indigenous peoples in Canada have high rates of psychological distress and suicide. We sought to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in psychological distress and suicidal behaviours, and the factors that explain them within Indigenous peoples living off-reserve. METHODS: Using the nationally representative 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey collected from Indigenous adults living off-reserve in Canada, we measured income-related […]

Psychological inflexibility predicts of suicidal ideation over time in veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan

Psychological inflexibility, or how individuals respond to distressing internal experiences, may be a modifiable risk factor for suicide in veterans. It was hypothesized that psychological inflexibility would predict suicidal ideation after accounting for established risk factors at baseline and 1 year later. Post‐9/11 veterans (N = 309) completed clinical interview and self‐report measures at baseline and 1‐year follow‐up. […]

Why don’t academic physicians seek needed professional help for psychological distress?

PURPOSE: Suicidal thoughts, burnout and other signs of psychological distress are prevalent among physicians. There are no studies concerning help-seeking for psychological distress among university hospital physicians, who face a particularly challenging, competitive work environment. We compare psychologically-distressed university hospital physicians who have not sought needed help with those who have sought such help. We […]

Gender differences in suicidal behaviors: Mediation role of psychological distress between alcohol abuse/dependence and suicidal behaviors

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among emerging adults ages 18 to 25. Aims: To examine gender differences on the mediation effect of psychological distress between alcohol abuse or dependence (AAD) and suicidal behaviors (ideation, plan, and attempt). Method: The current study used the 2014 NSDUH public use data. Young adults aged 18 […]

The impact of financial hardship on single parents: An exploration of the journey from social distress to seeking help.

Single parent families are at high risk of financial hardship which may impact on psychological wellbeing. This study explored the impact of financial hardship on wellbeing on 15 single parents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using constructivist thematic analysis. Participants described food and fuel poverty, and the need to make sacrifices to ensure that […]