The impact of COVID-19 on mental, neurological and substance use services: Results of a rapid assessment

This report of a survey completed by 130 countries during the period June-August 2020 provides information about the extent of disruption to mental, neurological and substance use services due to COVID-19, the types of services that have been disrupted, and how countries are adapting to overcome these challenges.

Suicide safer care in behavioral health settings: A comparative analysis of perceptions, training completion, and practice between mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers

Background Despite prevention and treatment efforts, opioid overdose deaths continue to rise in the United States and totaled 46,802 in 2018. This public health crisis is closely linked with suicide, with those who misuse opioids at six times the risk of death by suicide. Suicide prevention in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment may be a […]

The moderating role of psychological inflexibility in the relationship between minority stress, substance misuse, and suicidality in LGB+ adolescents

Minority stress has been posited as a framework to explain the health disparities seen in sexual minority youth, including lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB+) youth. In the present study, psychological inflexibility was investigated as a moderator in the relationship between minority stress and two harmful youth outcomes: substance misuse and suicidality. Analyses showed significant interactions indicating […]

A naturalistic study of youth referred to a tertiary care facility for acute hypomanic or manic episode

Background: Bipolar Disorders (BD) in youth are a heterogeneous condition with different phenomenology, patterns of comorbidity and outcomes. Our aim was to explore the effects of gender; age at onset (prepubertal- vs. adolescent-onset) of BD; and elements associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) comorbidities, severe suicidal ideation or attempts, and […]

Individual contribution of youth antisocial symptoms to suicide behavior in adults with substance use disorders

This study assesses the individual contribution of youth symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (before the age of 15) in past-month suicidal behavior in adults with substance use disorders. Youth antisocial symptoms and suicidal behavior were assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Indicators of youth antisocial symptoms were significantly associated with suicide outcomes; lack of […]

Suicide attempt and associated factors among adolescents in five southeast Asian countries in 2015

Background: Suicide is a major cause of death among adolescents. Aims: The study aimed to report on the prevalence and correlates of suicide attempt among in-school adolescents in five Southeast Asian countries. Method: Cross-sectional data from the 2015 Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) included 33,004 middle-school children (mean age = 14.3 years, SD = 1.6) that were representative of all students […]

COVID-19 risk and outcomes in patients with substance use disorders: Analyses from electronic health records in the United States

The global pandemic of COVID-19 is colliding with the epidemic of opioid use disorders (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) in the United States (US). Currently, there is limited data on risks, disparity, and outcomes for COVID-19 in individuals suffering from SUD. This is a retrospective case-control study of electronic health records (EHRs) data […]

A cross-sectional investigation of divine struggles and suicide risk among men in early recovery from substance use disorders

Many people draw strength and comfort from a relationship with God or a Higher Power in recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). However, research indicates divine struggles may increase risk for suicide. Focusing on 144 men in the first 6 months of recovery from SUDs who were recruited from community-based programs providing housing and substance […]

Understanding the linkages between parental monitoring, school academic engagement, substance use, and suicide among adolescents in U.S.

Background Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults. Improving the understanding of social-ecological factors associated with youth suicide behaviors may highlight important ideas for prevention. Objective From a social-ecological theoretical framework of suicide, this study aims to test whether parental monitoring and school academic engagement predict suicidal behavior and […]

Victimization in traditional and cyberbullying as risk factors for substance use, self-harm and suicide attempts in high school students

Background: Traditional bullying (or peer bullying) is considered a common and unpleasant experience among students and has serious consequences such as mental health problems and unhealthy behavior. In recent years, another type of bullying named cyberbullying has emerged as a growing problem with negative effects on school achievement, physiology, and mental health of its victims. […]

Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic: United States, June 24-30, 2020

Summary What is already known about this topic? Communities have faced mental health challenges related to COVID-19–associated morbidity, mortality, and mitigation activities. What is added by this report? During June 24–30, 2020, U.S. adults reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions associated with COVID-19. Younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported […]

A cross-sectional study of opioid involvement in non-poisoning suicide: Risks and prevention opportunities

Background The current opioid epidemic has drawn attention to drug overdose deaths including unintentional and suicide poisoning deaths which peaked in the United States in 2017. Concurrent with the opioid epidemic, the number and rate of suicides in the United States has increased. At the same time, the proportion of suicide deaths across cause of […]

Projected COVID-19 MHSUD impacts, volume 2: Effects of COVID-induced economic recession (COVID Recession) on veteran suicide and substance use disorder (SUD) – June 15, 2020

On April 28, 2020, the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) issued the first in a series of reports analyzing the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our initial report projected the impact of a COVID-induced economic recession (the COVID recession) on increases in rates of suicide, illicit-drug related deaths, and substance use disorders. […]

Suicide attempts among those with migraine: Findings from a nationally representative Canadian study

The objectives of this study were to identify the gender-specific prevalence of suicide attempts among those with migraine and to examine what factors are associated with suicide attempts among migraineurs. This study was a nationally representative analysis of the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health (CCHS-MH) with 21,744 respondents, of whom 2,223 had […]

Associations of despair with suicidality and substance misuse among young adults

IMPORTANCE Deaths of despair is a term that has recently been used to describe the increases in premature mortality from suicides, drug overdoses (particularly from opiates), and alcohol-related liver disease among US adults. Despite the use of the term despair, its role in these causes of premature death has not been empirically tested. OBJECTIVE To […]

Suicide after contact with substance misuse services: A national registry study

Background: People with substance use disorders have a well-known increased risk for taking their own life. Previous research has mainly focused on suicide in mental health services, whereas there is limited knowledge regarding suicide after contact with substance misuse services. Aims: The aim of the current study was to describe the utilisation of both mental health services […]

Addressing a crisis: Cross-sector strategies to prevent adolescent substance use and suicide

Adolescence is a time of change; it’s exciting, exhilarating, and often requires support. It’s a period when youth are developing their capacity for self-direction.1 For many young people, the transition from childhood to adulthood can be challenging, yet we know it is also a period full of promise and opportunity, when we can intervene to […]

Non-opioid substances acute poisonings with suicidal intent in patients with opioid use disorder

Introduction: Several epidemiological studies have evaluated the role of illicit drug use in suicide behaviour. Aim: To assess patients with opioid use disorder and suicidal intent related to behavior, severity of acute poisoning and the most commonly used non-opioid substances. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study included 67 patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder. The study was […]

Substance use disorders and risk of suicide in a general US population: A case control study

Background Prior research suggests that substance use disorders (SUDs) are associated with risk of suicide mortality, but most previous work has been conducted among Veterans Health Administration patients. Few studies have examined the relationship between SUDs and suicide mortality in general populations. Our study estimates the association of SUDs with suicide mortality in a general […]

Koori voices: Self-harm, suicide attempts, arrests and substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait island adolescents following residential treatment

BACKGROUND: Complex interacting social, economic and historical factors influence the availability and uptake of alcohol and drugs, including among Indigenous communities. Self-harm and suicide as well as homelessness and incarceration, can both precede and result from drug and alcohol use. Rates of self-harm, suicide and incarceration among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia […]

Suicide among people treated for drug use disorders: A Danish national record-linkage study

Background Substance use disorders are a major risk factor for suicide. However, less is known about specific risk factors for suicide in people with substance use disorders. Methods This population cohort study assessed suicide among people treated for drug use disorders in Denmark 2000–2010, and described risk factors for completed suicide. Data from 27,942 individuals […]

Integrating local health departments to reduce suicide-related emergency department visits among people with substance use disorders: Evidence from the state of Maryland

Individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) are six times as likely than those without a SUD to attempt suicide, however just 18% of the SUD population has received treatment. One of the barriers to treatment is appropriate and timely mental health services. This resulted in a substantial increase in emergency department (ED) visits related […]

Predictors of emergency department visits for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt

Objectives This study investigated predictors of emergency department (ED) visits for suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in 2014–15 among patients at six Quebec emergency departments (ED), using administrative data. Methods Participants (n = 11,778) used ED for suicidal ideation (30.4%); suicide attempt (7.0%); or other reasons (61.7%). A multinomial logistic regression was performed using variables described by […]