Citation

Jenkins R. Psychiatry 2007; 6(1): 16-18.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Medicine Publishing Company Ltd.)

DOI

10.1053/j.mppsy.2006.10.010

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide and self-harm are receiving increased attention and awareness from policymakers, professionals, researchers and the public. Globally, suicide is thought to be the 15th leading cause of death, although this may be an underestimate because it does not take into account - 'unofficial' suicides (deaths that are suicides but not recorded as such, i.e. open verdicts), and many countries do not yet have vital registration systems. Self-harm is not recorded nationally, although there are a number of good studies within and between countries. This contribution discusses the relationship of substance abuse with suicide and self-harm. Alcohol has long been recognized as a major contributor to suicide and, as the abuse of other substances has risen, there is now increasing evidence of their contribution to suicidal behaviour and suicide. Thus, substance abuse is the second most frequent precursor to suicide after depressive illness. The negative consequences of substance abuse accumulate in a vicious circle of diminishing social support and increased exposure to life events, subsequent affective disorder and increased suicidal risk. Help is infrequently sought and poorly used. Health and social care professionals need to be aware that depression and substance abuse form a lethal combination, and that vigorous treatment of comorbid depression is the most promising avenue for prevention of suicide in people with substance abuse.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; alcohol; alcoholism; lethality; self-harm; depression; social support; cause of death; risk assessment; comorbidity; environmental exposure; suicidal risk; review; substance abuse; life event; automutilation; priority journal; registration; life events