National Suicide Prevention Week: Risk high among Muslims, nurses, others

Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. overall between 2001 and 2019, according to CDC data.

Moreover, it was the second and fourth leading cause among individuals aged 10 to 34 years and 35 to 44 years, respectively. Data collected since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown evidence of increases in suicide-related mental health occurrences. For instance, a study published in MMWR showed suspected suicide attempt ED visits were 50.6% higher among girls aged 12 to 17 years between Feb. 21 and March 20 of this year compared with the same period in 2019, as well as an increase of 3.7% among boys aged 12 to 17 years between these two periods.

Although suicide deaths in the U.S. declined by 5.6% overall in 2020 compared with 2019 according to data published in JAMA, research has shown that individuals from certain backgrounds, such as those from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, are at increased risk for suicide-related occurrences.

Sept. 5 to 11 marks National Suicide Prevention Week. To highlight this observance, Healio Psychiatry has compiled a list of important research and guidance related to suicide.

Suicide attempt more common among Muslim adults than people of other faiths

Muslim adults in the U.S. were twice as likely to report a history of suicide attempt compared with individuals from other faith traditions, according to results of a survey in a research letter published in JAMA Psychiatry. Read more.

Nearly 2% of U.S. population may be at significant risk for suicide attempt

Researchers have used an algorithmic approach to confirm well-known risk factors for suicide attempt and identify new ones, according to study results published in JAMA Psychiatry. Read more.

Suicide-related Google searches decreased significantly since onset of COVID-19 pandemic

Internet searches related to suicide decreased during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to results of a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

Nurses at significantly increased suicide risk compared with general U.S. population

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses in the U.S. had a significantly increased risk for suicide compared with the general population, according to results of a retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Psychiatry. Read more.

Significant number of suicide cases may have cancer history

A significant proportion of individuals who die by suicide may have cancer history, according to results of a quantitative study conducted in Hong Kong and published in Psycho-Oncology. Read more.

References:

Ahmad FB and Anderson RN. JAMA. 2021;doi:10.1001/jama.2021.5469.

CDC. Leading causes of death and injury. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/LeadingCauses.html. Accessed Sept. 7, 2021.

Yard E, et al. MMWR. 2021;doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7024e1.