New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Around 60% of people who contemplate or attempt suicide do not receive treatment

Date:
May 1, 2014
Source:
The Lancet
Summary:
The key psychological factors that may contribute to, or protect against, suicidal behavior include personality differences, cognitive factors, and negative life events such as serious physical illness, as well as current psychological treatments. Evidence suggests that about 60% of people struggling with suicidal thoughts or behavior do not receive any help, and, surprisingly, there is relatively little evidence for the effectiveness of treatments received by those who do.
Share:
FULL STORY

In this Review, published to coincide with the launch of The Lancet Psychiatry journal, Professor Rory O’Connor from the University of Glasgow and Professor Matthew K. Nock from Harvard University review the key psychological factors that may contribute to, or protect against, suicidal behavior including personality differences, cognitive factors, and negative life events such as serious physical illness, as well as current psychological treatments. Evidence suggests that about 60% of people struggling with suicidal thoughts or behavior do not receive any help, and, surprisingly, there is relatively little evidence for the effectiveness of treatments received by those who do. The authors conclude by calling for more research into novel psychological and psychosocial treatments.

According to Professor O’Connor, “Although a range of risk factors that contribute to suicidal behavior have been identified, it is not clear how or why these factors work together to increase the risk of suicidal behavior and there is little known about what protects against suicide among those who are vulnerable. Further studies are urgently needed to develop psychological treatments for those at risk of suicide alongside efforts to eliminate barriers that lead to underuse of mental health resources.”*

Professor Nock adds, “As a field, we have made significant advances in our understanding of suicidal behavior in recent years. We now have a strong foundation of knowledge about suicidal behavior on which to build, as well as some exciting new findings about psychological factors that seem to put people at risk for thinking about suicide, and other factors that increase their likelihood of acting on suicidal thoughts. It is vitally important that we as a society invest heavily in making further advances so that we can start to decrease the suffering and loss of life due to suicidal behavior.”


Story Source:

Materials provided by The Lancet. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Rory C O’Connor, Matthew K Nock. The psychology of suicidal behaviour. Lancet Psychiatry, May 2014 DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70222-6

Cite This Page:

The Lancet. "Around 60% of people who contemplate or attempt suicide do not receive treatment." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 May 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501192623.htm>.
The Lancet. (2014, May 1). Around 60% of people who contemplate or attempt suicide do not receive treatment. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501192623.htm
The Lancet. "Around 60% of people who contemplate or attempt suicide do not receive treatment." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501192623.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES