Financial hardship is a top risk factor for suicide attempts
09 September, 2020
According to a new study, people who've recently experienced severe financial strain may have a 20-fold higher threat of attempting suicide than those people who have not encountered hardship.
A report that appears online in the American Journal of Epidemiology indicates that financial strain is a substantial risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.
The researchers also warn that, because of the current pandemic’s effect on economies, suicide attempts may become a much greater worry in the near future.
“Our research demonstrates financial stressors play a significant role in suicides, which should be recognized and appreciated in light of the unprecedented financial instability triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic,” says lead author Prof. Eric Elbogen, from the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC.
“We could well be seeing a dramatic increase in suicide rates moving forward,” he further speculates.
Worrying predictions
Prof. Elbogen and his colleagues conducted their research before the start of pandemic, on a representative cohort of adults in the usa.
They analyzed data from 34,653 adults interviewed first in 2001-2002 and then in 2004-2005 within the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.
The researchers discovered that being in debt or facing a financial crisis, unemployment, past homelessness, and having low income were each connected with suicide attempts.
The researchers predict that persons who have experienced all of these financial stressors could face a 20-fold higher risk of attempting suicide than individuals who have experienced no financial strain.
The team predicts an identical trend for suicidal ideation in relation to economic stressors.
“Our study, while assessing this connection using pre-COVID data, shows a primary risk which should raise alarm as millions of folks experience economic hardship caused by the pandemic,” notes Prof. Elbogen.
“Although the best health impact of COVID-19 continues to be unknown, it really is all but certain that the longer infections spread, there is going to be more people who will experience significant financial strain caused by work stoppages and disruption.”
- Prof. Eric Elbogen
In the analysis paper, the authors also write that: “In the context of suicide prevention, considering income, employment or both are essential however, not sufficient. Policymakers and clinicians should address how persons manage their income.”
They also clarify that their study may involve some limitations, in particular, because of the fact that suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were self-reported by the participants.
Since society often attaches stigma to mental health issues and suicide attempts, some interviewees may have chosen never to disclose the entire extent of their conditions, the investigators note.
Finally, they caution that the analysis didn't measure all dimensions of financial strain, like a person’s current threat of homelessness or the nature of their job loss, whether everlasting or temporary.
You will find a “dependence on further research examining relationships between financial strain, mental health, and empowerment,” they write, explaining a person’s insufficient opportunities for financial mobility could also play a crucial role.
Suicide prevention
In the event that you know someone at immediate threat of self-harm, suicide, or hurting someone else:
Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
- Listen to the individual without judgment.
- Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text Speak to 741741 to talk to a tuned crisis counselor.
- Stay with the individual until professional help arrives.
- Make an effort to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available a day each day at 800-273-8255. During a crisis, persons who are hard of hearing can call 800-799-4889.
Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
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