Suicidal Behavior and Its Association With Psychological Distress, Coping Mechanisms, and Resilience: A...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Emerging research highlights psychological factors like resilience and coping mechanisms as crucial buffers against suicide risk.
• A significant gap exists in Indian literature regarding the interplay of psychological risk and protective factors in suicidal behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between psychological factors (coping strategies, resilience) and suicidal behavior in Indian suicide attempters.
• To identify key psychological determinants influencing suicide intent, lethality, and attempt characteristics.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among suicide attempters in a tertiary care hospital in Southern India.
• Sociodemographic data, suicide attempt characteristics, suicide intent, lethality, stressful life events, perceived stress, subjective distress, coping strategies, and resilience were assessed using standard rating scales.

Main Results:

• Pesticide poisoning was the most common method (46.7%). Significant gender differences were observed in coping strategies and resilience.
• Increased perceived stress correlated with psychiatric comorbidity, past attempts, and high-intent attempts. Maladaptive coping was linked to substance abuse and prior attempts.
• Low resilience was associated with specific attempt methods (hanging), psychiatric/substance use disorders, past attempts, high intent, and less lethal attempts.

Conclusions:

• Perceived stress, coping strategies, and resilience are significantly associated with suicidal behavior.
• These psychological factors represent critical targets for suicide prevention strategies in the Indian context.