The association between social fragmentation and deaths attributable to alcohol, drug use, and suicide: Longitudinal evidence from a population-based sample of Canadian adults

Background: Social fragmentation has been theorized and empirically associated with suicide in prior research. However, less is known about whether social fragmentation is associated with deaths attributed to alcohol use or drug use. This research examined the association between social  fragmentation and risk for deaths attributable to alcohol use, drug use, and suicide (collectively known […]

Suicide from intimate partner and other relationship conflicts: Demographic and clinical correlates’

Background: A significant portion of suicides are precipitated by interpersonal relationship problems. Aims: To examine demographic and clinical correlates of any intimate partner conflicts (IPC) and other interpersonal conflicts (OPC) as suicide precipitants. Methods: We analyzed data on 92,805 (72,628 male; 20,177 female) adult suicide decedents from the 2017 to 2019 U.S. National Violent Death Reporting System, using […]

Pilot randomized controlled trial of a brief strategy to prevent suicide after discharge from residential addiction treatment

Introduction Veterans are at greater risk for suicide and veterans with substance use disorder (SUD) have an even greater risk. Little research has looked into brief interventions to prevent suicide in this population in residential substance use treatment programs. Method We conducted a pilot, randomized controlled trial of a brief suicide prevention strategy called Veterans Affairs Brief Intervention and Contact Program […]

The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and suicide-related behaviours in Indigenous clients seeking substance use treatment

Indigenous populations in Canada are at higher risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; e.g., abuse, neglect, or other household challenges before the age of 18) when compared to non-Indigenous populations. As the number of ACEs increase, so do rates of substance use and suicide risk. In non-Indigenous populations, the presence of prior suicide-related behaviours (SRBs) […]

Suicidal ideation among Canadian adults during the COVID‑19 pandemic: The role of psychosocial factors and substance use behaviours

Background Suicide is one of the most important and increasing public health agenda around the world. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns have been raised about the potential adverse impacts of the pandemic on suicide-related outcomes. The main objective of this study was to examine the association of psychosocial risk factors (mental health illnesses and social […]

Implementing suicide risk screening in a virtual addiction clinic

The purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility of implementing suicide risk screening in a virtual addiction clinic. Suicide risk screening was implemented in a virtual addiction clinic serving individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) using a quality improvement framework. One-hundred percent (252/252) of eligible patients enrolled in the clinic were screened for […]

Factors associated with suicide in people who use drugs: A scoping review

Background Suicide is a significant contributor to global mortality. People who use drugs (PWUD) are at increased risk of death by suicide relative to the general population, but there is a lack of information on associated candidate factors for suicide in this group. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of […]

Characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts among patients admitted to an Iranian poisoning center: Implications for suicide prevention

Background: Suicide is a major public health concern worldwide. Iran is no exception, with suicide rates increasing in recent years. Understanding the characteristics and related factors of suicide attempts can help inform suicide prevention efforts in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who attempted suicide and were admitted to the poisoning emergency […]

Substance abuse treatment: Group therapy

This guide helps counselors improve their skills in leading group therapy sessions for substance use treatment. The guide discusses types of group therapy, confidentiality, client placement, group development, stages of treatment, how-to tips, training, and supervision.

Suicidal behaviors and risk taking among homeless individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The present systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to determine sociodemographic characteristics, risky behaviors, mental health disorders, and substance use disorders associated with suicide behaviors including suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among homeless individuals. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify the relevant studies published between January 1, 1995 and November 1, 2022. […]

Ethanol and illicit drugs acute use and abuse as risk factors for suicide: A case-control study based on forensic autopsies in the Basque Country, Spain

Introduction: Abuse/dependence and acute use of ethanol and illicit drug are considered risk factors for suicide. The risk is also influenced by demographic conditions and/or psychiatric comorbidity. The aim of the study was to test the association between presence of ethanol, illicit substances and prescribed drugs in suicide decedents and controls. Materials and methods: Case–control study of autopsies performed in the Biscay Forensic […]

Suicide bereavement and loneliness among UK Armed Forces veterans under the care of mental health services: Prevalence and associations

Suicide bereavement is a risk factor for suicide and psychiatric illness. Its lifetime prevalence in the general population is estimated at 22%, and in one (US) veteran sample as 47%, but no estimates exist for a UK veteran sample. We aimed to measure the lifetime prevalence of suicide bereavement in a clinical sample of UK […]

How does active substance use at psychiatric admission impact suicide risk and hospital length of stay?

Background/Objective: Despite their high prevalence, little is known about the effects of substance use disorders (SUD) and active substance use on the suicide risk or length of stay (LOS) of psychiatric inpatients. This study examines the relationship between active substance use at the time of psychiatric hospitalization and changes in suicide risk measures and LOS. […]

Suicidal behaviours and their correlates in school-going Lebanese adolescents: Findings from a national survey

Background: Adolescent suicide is regarded as a serious phenomenon that affects the well-being of the youth. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of suicidal behaviours and their association with physical/psychological harm and substance use in a nationally representative sample of adolescents in Grades 7–12 in Lebanon. Methods: Data from the latest Global School-Based Student […]

High suicidality predicts overdose events among people with substance use disorder: A latent class analysis

Introduction: Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and continues to be a major public health concern. Suicide risk is highly prevalent among individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health disorders, making them more prone to adverse substance use related outcomes including overdose. Identifying individuals with SUD who […]

Mental health and substance use during COVID-19 final summary report: Regional spotlight and key characteristics

The Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction tracked the relationship between mental health and substance use through a series of polls between October 2020 and March 2022. This final report looks at regional variations among different populations across 10 waves of data during this period. Results include […]

Alcohol use, self-harm and suicide: A scoping review of its portrayal in the Sri Lankan literature

Background: Suicide is a global public health problem. Compared to other middle-income countries, much literature has been generated on the topic of self-harm and suicide in Sri Lanka. Harmful use of alcohol is a well-known risk  factor to self-harm and suicide, however the connection needed further exploration. Aim: The aim was to investigate alcohol’s role […]

The role of alcohol use in pesticide suicide and self-harm: A scoping review

Purpose: Suicide and self-harm by pesticide self-poisoning is common in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Alcohol is an important risk factor for self-harm; however, little is known about its role in pesticide self-poisoning. This scoping review explores the role that alcohol plays in pesticide self-harm and suicide. Methods: The review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review […]

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual behavioral health: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Behavioral Health: Results from the 2021 and 2022 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health presents data on key substance use and mental health indicators by sexual identity and gender among adults aged 18 or older in the United States. Estimates are based on pooled data from the 2021 and 2022 […]

Symptoms of alcohol dependence predict suicide ideation among Alaskan undergraduates

Background: Previous research has demonstrated an association between alcohol-related problems and suicidal ideation (SI). Aims: The present study evaluated, simultaneously, alcohol consequences and symptoms of alcohol dependence as predictors of SI after adjusting for depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption. Method: A sample of 298 Alaskan undergraduates completed survey measures, including the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire, the Short […]

Witnessing community violence, gun carrying, and associations with substance use and suicide risk among high school students: Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2021

Community violence, including homicides involving firearms, is a significant public health concern. From 2019 to 2020, firearm-related homicides increased by 39% for youths and young adults aged 10–24 years, and rates of suicide by firearm increased by approximately 15% among the same age group. Findings from the nationally representative 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey were […]

Pain in the nation: The epidemics of alcohol, drug, and suicide deaths

Deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide in the United States have risen alarmingly over the past two decades and exponentially in recent years. Between 2011 and 2021, annual deaths have more than doubled—rising from  an already startling figure of 104,379 deaths in 2011 to a staggering 209,225 deaths in 2021.1 Most of that increase was […]

Predictors of emergency department use for suicidal behaviors among patients with substance-related disorders

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors of emergency department (ED) use for suicide ideation or suicide attempt compared with other reasons among 14,158 patients with substance-related disorders (SRD) in Quebec (Canada). Methods: Longitudinal data on clinical, sociodemographic, and service use variables for patients who used addiction treatment centers in 2012-13 were extracted from Quebec administrative databases. […]