Suicidal behaviors among clients at an outpatient psychology clinic versus the general population

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on the comparison of suicidal behaviors among two populations in the same geographical area: clients at a psychology clinic vs. individuals from the general population sampled at an area shopping center. In both samples 10 percent of the individuals reported prior parasuicidal behavior; the two populations were also quite similar on reports of prior suicidal ideation: 31 percent in the clinical and 24 percent in the general population reported never, or only briefly, considering suicide at any point in their lives. Suicidal behavior was related to sex and income in the general population.