Psychosocial and clinical correlates of suicidal acts: results from a national population survey

Abstract

Background: Clinical samples have identified a number of psychosocial risk factors for suicidal acts but it is unclear if these findings relate to the general population.

Aims: To describe the prevalence of and psychosocial risk factors for suicidal acts in a general adult population.

Method: Data were obtained from a Canadian epidemiological survey of 36,984 respondents aged 15 years and older (weighted sample n=23,662,430).

Results: Of these respondents, 0.6% (weighted n=130,143) endorsed a 12-month suicidal act. Female gender (OR=4.27, 95% CI 4.05-4.50), being separated (OR=37.88, 95% CI 33.92-42.31) or divorced (OR=7.79, 95% CI 7.22-8.41), being unemployed (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.50-1.80), experiencing a chronic physical health condition (OR=1.70, 95% CI 1.67-1.86) and experiencing a major depressive episode in the same 12-month period as the act (OR=9.10, 95% CI 8.65-9.59) were significantly associated with a suicidal act.

Conclusions: The psychosocial correlates of suicidal acts in this sample are consistent with those previously reported in clinical and general population samples. These findings reinforce the importance of the determination of suicide risk and its prevention not only of psychiatric illness but of physical and psychosocial factors as well.