Experiences which Add Risk for Development of Suicidal Ideations

Abstract

There are a number of known suicide risk factors. Nevertheless, these risk factors are not necessarily closely related in time to the onset of suicidal behaviors-nor does any risk factor alone increase or decrease risk. Population-based research suggests that the risk for suicide increases with an increase in the number of risk factors present, such that when more risk factors are present at any one time the more likely that they indicate an increased risk for suicidal behaviors at that time. Child maltreatment has been investigated as a suicide risk for decades. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of women from the general population with suicidal ideas or attempts and add to the actual literature a larger perspective of different types of maltreatment in regards to experiences such as neglect, psychological, physical or sexual abuse, and its association to risk factor for suicide ideas and attempts. Data were collected during a telephone survey held between March and May, 2012 among a sample of 1,001 female adult respondents from Kenyan Public Universities. Questions were selected to investigate childhood maltreatment as a risk factor for probable depression, and actual post-traumatic stress disorders, and suicidal behaviours in the course of their lives. Regression analysis indicates a positive association between sexual abuse and suicidal ideations, as well as a positive association between sexual abuse, psychological abuse, probable depression and suicide attempts. Respondents, who attempted suicide, were two to three times more likely to have experienced the presence of sexual or psychological abuse in the past and four times more likely to have been screened for a probable depression. Interventions that target the early reduction of sexual or psychological abuse, may translate into ulterior reduction in mental health and suicidal behaviours.