Suicide and Mental Illness

Research on the risk factors among people with mental disorders is urgent in the efforts to predict and prevent suicide death. In previous centuries Psychological autopsies have revealed that most people who have died by suicide have suffered from mental disorders and suggests this number could be at least 90%. 

On the other hand, most people with mental disorders do not die by their own hand.

The risk of suicide is present in mental disorders, such as depression, alcoholism, and schizophrenia.

Most studies on ethnicity /    immigrant status and suicide attempts showed higher rates among immigrants as compared to the native population.

Risk factors were found to be:

• language barriers

• worrying about family back home

• separation from family, often leading to

• hopelessness

• depression

• anxiety

Depression is a common contributor to suicide and is the most common disorder among people who die by suicide.

The risk factors in this disorder were:

• family history of psychiatric disorders

• male gender

• suicide attempts

• more severe depression

• hopelessness and comorbidity

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) have been implicated in a range of negative health outcomes in adulthood, including mental disorders and suicide death.

• Exccessive punishment
• Lost of Parent/Sibling /Grandparent 
• Sexual Mental or Physical Abuse 
• Unaddressed disorders