Temporal effects of separation on suicidal thoughts and behaviours

Philip J Batterham; A Kate Fairweather-Schmidt; Peter Butterworth; Alison L Calear; Andrew J Mackinnon; Helen Christensen

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.04.004

Temporal effects of separation on suicidal thoughts and behaviours

Soc Sci Med. 2014 Jun:111:58-63. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.04.004. Epub 2014 Apr 8.

Authors

Philip J Batterham¹, A Kate Fairweather-Schmidt², Peter Butterworth³, Alison L Calear⁴, Andrew J Mackinnon⁵, Helen Christensen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: philip.batterham@anu.edu.au.
² School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.
³ Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
⁴ Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
⁵ Orygen Research Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁶ Black Dog Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 24768777
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.04.004

Abstract

Divorce has been identified as a risk factor for suicide. However, little research has been conducted on the time trajectory of the influence of relationship separation on suicidal outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effects over time of relationship breakdown and separation on suicidality. Data were drawn from 6616 Australian adults participating in the PATH through Life Project, a population-based longitudinal study. Suicidal ideation was reported by 406 participants (6.1%), and 99 (1.5%) reported a suicide plan or attempt in the past year. The effects of separation on suicidality were strongest soon after separation, with a nearly three-fold increase in ideation (adjusted OR = 2.73, p < 0.001) and an eight-fold increase in plans/attempts (adjusted OR = 7.75, p < 0.001) in the two years following separation, gradually diminishing subsequently. The period up to four years before a separation was also found to be a time of increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviours, while marriage was protective. Separation is a strong risk factor for suicidality and mental health services should target recently separated individuals.

Keywords: Attempts; Divorce; Ideation; Mental health; Relationship breakdown; Separation; Suicide.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Australia
Divorce / psychology*
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide / psychology*
Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data
Time Factors
Young Adult