Increases in suicidal thoughts disclosure among adults in France from 2000 to 2021

Abstract

Background: The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation disclosure over the past two decades in nationally representative samples of the general population, and to identify factors associated with disclosure.

Methods: Data were drawn from consecutive nationally representative cross-sectional Health Barometer surveys. The 2000, 2005, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2021 waves were pooled to examine disclosure among those who reported 12-month suicidal ideation. Logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with the odds of disclosure.

Results: Across all waves (n = 124,124), 6014 of adults (4.7 %) reported 12-month suicidal ideation, and among them, 49.7 % talked to someone about it. Disclosure was 39 % in 2000, 44.6 % in 2005, 49.9 % in 2010, 52.8 % in 2014, 47.2 % in 2017, and 64.8 % in 2021. Female gender, a prior suicide attempt, higher education, inactive status, and younger age were associated with significantly greater odds of disclosure. Each survey wave was also associated with a greater likelihood of disclosure when compared to 2000, 1.31 (95 % CI, 1.08-1.59) in 2005, 1.69 (95 % CI, 1.38-2.07) in 2010, 1.89 (95 % CI, 1.52-2.34) in 2014, 1.47 (95 % CI, 1.21-1.79) in 2017, and 2.99 (95 % CI, 2.43-3.68) in 2021.

Limitations: Cross-sectional surveys.

Conclusions: In the general population of France, adults with suicidal ideation were increasingly more likely to disclose their ideation to someone in recent years. Factors associated with odds of disclosure should inform national suicide prevention strategies to identify subgroups who remain less likely than others to disclose their ideation.

Keywords: Disclosure; Epidemiology; National survey; Suicidal ideation.