Summary: 28.4% of people who had previously attempted suicide reported complete mental health, including being free of psychological problems for up to a year and improvements in life satisfaction spanning a month or more.
Source: University of Toronto
A new nationally representative Canadian study published in the Archives of Suicide Research found that 28.4% of respondents with a history of suicide attempts reached a state of complete mental health.
To be considered in complete mental health, participants had to report: freedom from mental illness, such as substance dependence, psychiatric disorders, suicidality, in the previous year; almost daily happiness or life satisfaction in the past month; and high levels of social and psychological well-being in the past month.
“This is a very hopeful finding for individuals struggling with suicidality and their loved ones,” said lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson, professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging. “Our findings indicate a significant minority of individuals with a history of suicide attempts go on to achieve high levels of happiness and psychological flourishing.”
The researchers examined a nationally representative sample of 769 Canadians who had attempted suicide at some point in their lives using data drawn from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health.
“We found social support to be a key factor in supporting the well-being of individuals with previous suicide attempts,” says co-author Philip Baiden, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work. “Respondents who had someone to confide in were six times more likely to be in a state of complete mental health.”
Other factors that were associated with complete mental health among those with a history of suicide attempts included being free from chronic pain, and insomnia
“This study also highlights factors that may act as a barrier to positive mental health outcomes following a suicide attempt,” says co-author Ian Mahoney, a recent law school graduate from York University, Toronto. “It is essential to address modifiable factors, such as insomnia and chronic pain, to support the well-being of this vulnerable population.”
Complete mental health was also found to be more prevalent among women, older respondents, and those with higher income.
“While remission from suicidality is an important factor in the recovery process, this research draws attention to mental health outcomes beyond the absence of a suicide attempt,” says co-author Andie MacNeil, a recent Master of Social Work graduate from the University of Toronto. “This study incorporates measures of social and psychological well-being, encouraging a more holistic approach to recovery from suicidality
About this suicide and mental health research news
Source: University of Toronto
Contact: Esme Fuller-Thomson – University of Toronto
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Closed access.
“A Bright Light at the End of the Tunnel: Factors Associated With Complete Mental Health After a Suicide Attempt” by Esme Fuller-Thomson et al. Archives of Suicide Research
Abstract
A Bright Light at the End of the Tunnel: Factors Associated With Complete Mental Health After a Suicide Attempt
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with complete mental health (CMH) among a nationally representative sample of Canadians who had a history of suicide attempts.
Methods
Data for this study came from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health. A subsample of 796 respondents who had ever attempted suicide was analyzed. The outcome variable investigated was CMH, which includes three elements: (a) absence of past-year suicidality or mental illness (measured by the World Health Organization version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview); (b) happiness or satisfaction; and (c) social and psychological well-being. Bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression were conducted to identify factors associated with CMH among Canadians who had a history of suicide attempts.
Results
Of the 796 respondents who had a history of suicide attempts, 28.4% were in CMH. In accordance with past research, positive factors associated with CMH were as follows: having a confidant, lacking chronic pain, absence of insomnia, being female, older age, higher income, and having no history of mental illness, including bipolar disorder, major depressive episode, or generalized anxiety disorder. Those with two suicide attempts were less likely to experience CMH than those with one suicide attempt. Surprisingly, medical attention after the attempt was positively associated with CMH. In total, these factors accounted for 29% of the variance in CMH.
Conclusions
Adults with a history of suicide attempts can achieve an excellent level of mental health. These findings suggest that interventions to promote social support and manage chronic pain and insomnia may be helpful.
