People Facing Health Challenges Make Up Largest Group of Suicide Decedents

Five distinct suicide profiles that could improve detection and treatment of co-existing health conditions and bolster suicide prevention strategies were identified in a cross-sectional study.

In an analysis of 306,800 suicide deaths, individuals who faced physical health challenges comprised the largest profile class of the five (31.7%), according to Yunyu Xiao, PhD, of Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian in New York City, and colleagues.

Notably, decedents with this profile (class 4) also had the lowest rates of disclosing suicidal intent (14.4%) or leaving a suicide note (25.1%), they reported in JAMA Psychiatry