Loneliness in Relation to Suicide Ideation and Parasuicide: a Population-Wide Study

Some links between loneliness & different manifestations of suicidal conduct have been reported in a variety of subgroups, (e.g. college students, the elderly, psychiatric patients). The authors tested this hypothesis by using the results of a population-wide survey. Strong associations among suicide ideation, parasuicide, & different ways of being lonely & alone, defined either subjectively (i.e. the feeling) or objectively, were observed. Moreover, prevalence of suicide ideation & parasuicide increased with the degree of loneliness. Only minimal differences between men & women were found. (32 refs.)