Temporal effects of separation on suicidal thoughts and behaviours

PJ Batterham; AK Fairweather-Schmidt; P Butterworth; AL Calear; AJ Mackinnon; H Christensen

Journal article

Temporal effects of separation on suicidal thoughts and behaviours

PJ Batterham, AK Fairweather-Schmidt, P Butterworth, AL Calear, AJ Mackinnon, H Christensen

Social Science and Medicine | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | Published : 2014

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<..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Andrew MacKinnon Author

Related Projects (1)

CENTRE OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FOR IMPROVING SUICIDE PREVENTION IN AUSTRALIA THROUGH BETTER IMPLEMENTATION OF EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS, IMPROVED RISK IDENTIFICATION AND EVIDENCE INFORMED POLICY.

Suicide is the most common cause of death in Australians aged 15-44. This ‘Centre for Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention’ aims to bri..

Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the participants in this study, Patricia Jacomb, Karen Maxwell and PATH interviewers for their assistance. Funding for Waves 1 and 2 of the PATH study was provided by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Program Grant 179805 (CIs Jorm, Christensen, Rodgers, Easteal and Anstey) and Unit Grant No. 973302. Wave 3 funding (CIs Anstey, Christensen, Mackinnon, Easteal, Butterworth) was provided by NHMRC Project grant No. 157125. PJB is supported by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship 1035262. PB is supported by Australian Research Council Future Fellowship FT130101444. AC is supported by NHMRC Early Career Fellowship 1013199. HC is supported by NHMRC Fellowship 1056964. This research was also supported by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Suicide Prevention (grant number 1042580). The funding source had no involvement in any aspect of the study or manuscript. The authors declare no conflict of interest.