Pregnancies in High Psychosocial Risk Groups: Research Findings and Implications for Early Intervention

Besides the well-known risk factors for youth suicidal behavior, recent evidence suggests that risk for youth suicidal behavior can be determined even very early in life, during the prenatal and perinatal period. Low birth weight and short birth length adjusted for gestational age were found to increase the risk for suicidal behavior, particularly by violent means. Several parental factors like low parental socioeconomic status, teenage and single parenthood, multiparity and parental psychopathology, substance abuse and suicidal behavior have been linked to an increase in youth suicidal behavior. Effective collaboration among the sectors within health care and social services is crucial for early detection and adequate intervention.