Exercising Regularly as Suicide Alternative

Exercising Regularly as Suicide Alternative

Exercising regularly has been explored as a potential alternative or complementary approach to reducing suicide risk. This topic has gained attention due to the mental health benefits associated with physical activity, which may help mitigate factors contributing to suicidal ideation and behavior.

Protective Effects of Exercise

Regular physical activity is associated with reduced suicidal ideation and improved mental health outcomes across various populations. Studies have shown that exercise can decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety, which are often linked to suicidal thoughts (Kim and Kwak, 2024; Davidson et al., 2013; Grasdalsmoen et al., 2020). In university students, those engaging in more than five hours of exercise per week reported lower levels of suicidal ideation and planning compared to those with less physical activity (Ning et al., 2022). Similarly, a systematic review found that higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower levels of suicidal ideation, suggesting a protective effect (Vancampfort et al., 2018).

Mechanisms of Action

Exercise may reduce suicide risk through several mechanisms. It is known to improve sleep quality, reduce depressive symptoms, and enhance overall well-being, all of which are factors that can lower suicide risk (Kim and Kwak, 2024; Davidson et al., 2013). Additionally, exercise can serve as an adjunct to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), enhancing its effectiveness in reducing suicidal ideation and depression (Abdollahi et al., 2017). The physical and psychological benefits of exercise, such as increased resilience and stress control, are also important components of community-based suicide prevention programs (Kim and Kwak, 2024).

Specific Populations and Exercise Interventions

Different populations may experience varying benefits from exercise interventions. For instance, exercise has been shown to be particularly effective in reducing suicide risk among individuals with schizophrenia, who often lead sedentary lifestyles (Beck-Felts et al., 2020). In high-risk suicidal patients, activities like hiking have been found to improve physical fitness without worsening markers of suicidality, suggesting that exercise can be safely integrated into treatment plans for these individuals (Neunhäuserer et al., 2013).

Challenges and Future Directions

While the evidence supports the role of exercise in reducing suicide risk, there are challenges in implementing these interventions widely. Most studies are cross-sectional, limiting the ability to establish causality (Ning et al., 2022; Grasdalsmoen et al., 2020). More longitudinal and controlled trials are needed to confirm these associations and to understand the long-term effects of exercise on suicide prevention (Vancampfort et al., 2018). Additionally, tailoring exercise programs to individual needs and ensuring accessibility across different demographics remain important considerations for future research and implementation (Kim and Kwak, 2024; Ahmad, 2022).

References

Ning, K., Yan, C., Zhang, Y., & Chen, S., 2022. Regular Exercise with Suicide Ideation, Suicide Plan and Suicide Attempt in University Students: Data from the Health Minds Survey 2018–2019. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148856

Kim, K., & Kwak, Y., 2024. The Practical Analysis of Exercise-Intervention on Suicidal Ideation. Exercise Science. https://doi.org/10.15857/ksep.2024.00381

Abdollahi, A., LeBouthillier, D., Najafi, M., Asmundson, G., Hosseinian, S., Shahidi, S., Carlbring, P., Kalhori, A., Sadeghi, H., & Jalili, M., 2017. Effect of exercise augmentation of cognitive behavioural therapy for the treatment of suicidal ideation and depression.. Journal of affective disorders, 219, pp. 58-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.05.012

Neunhäuserer, D., Sturm, J., Baumgartlinger, M., Niederseer, D., Ledl-Kurkowski, E., Steidle, E., Plöderl, M., Fartacek, C., Kralovec, K., Fartaćek, R., & Niebauer, J., 2013. Hiking in suicidal patients: neutral effects on markers of suicidality.. The American journal of medicine, 126 10, pp. 927-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.05.008

Davidson, C., Babson, K., Bonn-Miller, M., Souter, T., & Vannoy, S., 2013. The impact of exercise on suicide risk: examining pathways through depression, PTSD, and sleep in an inpatient sample of veterans.. Suicide & life-threatening behavior, 43 3, pp. 279-89. https://doi.org/10.1111/SLTB.12014

Ahmad, A., 2022. The benefits of physical exercises for mental health in the COVID-19 era: an indirect role for suicide prevention. Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia. https://doi.org/10.5114/nan.2022.117049

Beck-Felts, K., Goodman, M., Ospina, L., Wall, M., Evoy, J., Jarskog, L., Ballon, J., Bartels, M., Buchsbaum, R., Sloan, R., Stroup, S., & Kimhy, D., 2020. Suicide Reduction in Schizophrenia via Exercise (SUnRISE): study protocol for a multi-site, single-blind, randomized clinical trial of aerobic exercise for suicide risk reduction in individuals with schizophrenia. Trials, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04788-z

Grasdalsmoen, M., Eriksen, H., Lønning, K., & Sivertsen, B., 2020. Physical exercise, mental health problems, and suicide attempts in university students. BMC Psychiatry, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02583-3

Vancampfort, D., Hallgren, M., Firth, J., Rosenbaum, S., Schuch, F., Mugisha, J., Probst, M., Van Damme, T., Carvalho, A., & Stubbs, B., 2018. Physical activity and suicidal ideation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Journal of affective disorders, 225, pp. 438-448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.070