Child abuse and the prevalence of suicide attempts among those reporting suicide ideation.
OBJECTIVE
Victims of child abuse may be at increased risk of acting on suicide ideation, although this has not been empirically tested. We estimated the risk of suicide attempts associated with child abuse among individuals who reported suicide ideation.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of data from the population-based Canadian Community Health Survey Mental Health (n = 828). This population-based survey included various structured questionnaires, including the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to assess mental illness and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.


RESULTS
Approximately 80 % of those who attempted suicide had a history of child abuse. Poor mental health, financial difficulties, poor coping skills, and reporting a suicide plan were also associated with an increased prevalence of attempting suicide; adjusted for these factors, child abuse was associated with a 1.77-fold increased prevalence (95 % CI 0.93, 3.36) of suicide attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
Most individuals who attempt suicide experience child abuse, and worse health and social functioning. Adopting a life-course perspective to understand trajectories of suicide risk factors may inform prevention and treatment.
['Martin|Michael S|MS|', 'Dykxhoorn|Jennifer|J|', 'Afifi|Tracie O|TO|', 'Colman|Ian|I|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse D000368:Aged D002170:Canada D005260:Female D006306:Health Surveys D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008603:Mental Health D008875:Middle Aged D015995:Prevalence D012307:Risk Factors D059020:Suicidal Ideation D013405:Suicide D013406:Suicide, Attempted
Child abuse Suicide Risk factors Mental disorders