Childhood abuse and adolescent suicidality: a direct link and an indirect link through alcohol and substance misuse

Abstract

Childhood abuse is responsible for a variety of outcomes that are characterized by maladjustment and maladaption. Two of the most significant results are suicide and alcohol and substance misuse. This paper explores the direct link between childhood abuse and adolescent suicide, the direct link between childhood abuse and adolescent alcohol and substance misuse, the indirect link between childhood abuse and adolescent suicide through alcohol and substance misuse, and finally implications of these links for practitioners working with adolescents who are experiencing or who have experienced childhood abuse. Both suicide and alcohol and substance misuse are prevalent in the adolescent population; however those adolescents who were victims of childhood abuse show an even greater prevalence of both suicidality and substance and alcohol misuse. Additionally adolescents who exhibit alcohol or substance misuse show greater rater of suicidality than those without alcohol and substance misuse. It appears that abuse is a risk factor for eventual suicidality. Practitioners working with children or adolescents who have experienced abuse need to work towards secondary prevention by identifying, predicting and treating those at risk for substance abuse and/or suicide; and those working with adolescents who are already abusing substances and/or are suicidal should work with the adolescent to identify and examine life events such as abuse that may have triggered the chain towards substance misuse and/or suicidal ideation.