Exploring New Hobbies as a Suicide Alternative
Engaging in new hobbies can serve as a beneficial alternative for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, providing them with a sense of purpose and distraction. This approach can help in alleviating feelings of boredom and isolation, which are often associated with suicidal ideation.
The Role of Hobbies in Mental Health
Distraction and Engagement: Introducing new hobbies can inspire individuals to engage in activities that divert their attention from negative thoughts. For instance, reading is highlighted as an accessible hobby that can be shared with others, fostering a sense of community and mutual interest (Park, 1946).
Overcoming Boredom: While some may find reading boring, selecting engaging materials, such as those related to specific interests like a “suicide club,” can help overcome this barrier. The key is to choose content that captivates the reader’s interest and fits their personal preferences, thereby reducing feelings of monotony (Park, 1946).
Challenges and Considerations
Personalization of Hobbies: Not all hobbies will appeal to everyone, and it is crucial to tailor activities to individual interests to ensure they are effective in providing relief from suicidal thoughts. Understanding personal preferences can help in selecting the right hobby that will be both engaging and therapeutic (Park, 1946).
In conclusion, exploring new hobbies can be a viable alternative to combat suicidal ideation by providing engagement, reducing boredom, and fostering a sense of community. Personalizing these activities to fit individual interests is essential for maximizing their positive impact.
References
Park, C., 1946. A SUICIDE CLUB. **. https://doi.org/10.4159/HARVARD.9780674423589.C37
Engaging in new hobbies offers several mental health benefits, including reducing depressive symptoms, enhancing emotional regulation, and providing stress relief. These benefits are supported by various studies that highlight the positive impact of hobbies on mental well-being.
Reduction in Depressive Symptoms
Engaging in hobbies is associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms and a lower likelihood of experiencing depression. This effect is consistent across different demographics, including those who are initially free from depression and those already experiencing it (Fancourt, Opher and De Oliveira, 2019).
Creative hobbies, in particular, can serve as a protective factor against stress and depression, especially when individuals identify strongly with their hobby (Mackenstadt, Adams-Price and Israel, 2022; Israel, Mackenstadt and Adams-Price, 2021).
Emotional Regulation and Stress Relief
Creative arts and hobbies activate neural circuits involved in emotional regulation, such as the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which can help in managing emotions effectively (Barnett and Vasiu, 2024).
Hobbies provide a means of emotional expression and relaxation, contributing to better emotional health and stress management (Fancourt et al., 2021; Barnett and Vasiu, 2024).
Social and Cognitive Benefits
Hobbies that involve social interaction, such as group activities, can enhance social support and a sense of belonging, which are beneficial for mental health (Fancourt, Opher and De Oliveira, 2019; Takeda et al., 2015).
Engaging in cognitive or intellectual hobbies may also support cognitive health, although findings on their impact on dementia are inconsistent (Kyaw, Levine and Zhao, 2022).
Mitigating Negative Effects of Stressors
Having hobbies can mitigate the adverse effects of stressors such as long working hours, improving overall mental well-being (Li et al., 2019).
During challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, hobbies have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, particularly in older adults (Israel, Mackenstadt and Adams-Price, 2021).
Conclusion
Overall, engaging in new hobbies can significantly benefit mental health by reducing depressive symptoms, enhancing emotional regulation, and providing stress relief. These activities also offer social and cognitive benefits, making them a valuable tool for improving overall well-being.
References
Fancourt, D., Opher, S., & De Oliveira, C., 2019. Fixed-Effects Analyses of Time-Varying Associations between Hobbies and Depression in a Longitudinal Cohort Study: Support for Social Prescribing?. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 89, pp. 111 – 113. https://doi.org/10.1159/000503571
Mackenstadt, D., Adams-Price, C., & Israel, S., 2022. EXPECTATIONS OF RECOGNITION AND BENEFITS OF CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE AND OLDER ADULTS. Innovation in Aging, 6, pp. 715 – 716. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igac059.2613
Kyaw, K., Levine, A., & Zhao, A., 2022. Topical Review of Hobbies and Cognitive Health.. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease : JAD. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-220593
Fancourt, D., Aughterson, H., Finn, S., Walker, E., & Steptoe, A., 2021. How leisure activities affect health: a narrative review and multi-level theoretical framework of mechanisms of action. The lancet. Psychiatry, 8, pp. 329 – 339. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30384-9
Li, Z., Dai, J., Wu, N., Jia, Y., Gao, J., & Fu, H., 2019. Effect of Long Working Hours on Depression and Mental Well-Being among Employees in Shanghai: The Role of Having Leisure Hobbies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16244980
Barnett, K., & Vasiu, F., 2024. How the arts heal: a review of the neural mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of creative arts on mental and physical health. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1422361
Takeda, F., Noguchi, H., Monma, T., & Tamiya, N., 2015. How Possibly Do Leisure and Social Activities Impact Mental Health of Middle-Aged Adults in Japan?: An Evidence from a National Longitudinal Survey. PLoS ONE, 10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139777
Israel, S., Mackenstadt, D., & Adams-Price, C., 2021. Creative Hobbies as a Protective Factor Against Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults. Innovation in Aging, 5, pp. 14 – 14. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.051
Practicing Gratitude as a Suicide Alternative
Gratitude, defined as the appreciation of positive aspects of life, has been increasingly studied as a potential protective factor against suicidal ideation and behavior. This research explores the mechanisms through which gratitude may reduce suicide risk and its effectiveness as an intervention.
Protective Mechanisms of Gratitude
Psychosocial Well-being: Gratitude is associated with improved psychosocial well-being and decreased psychopathology, which in turn reduces suicide risk. It positively influences factors such as hopelessness, depression, social support, and substance misuse, thereby mitigating suicidal thoughts and behaviors (Kaniuka et al., 2020; Kaniuka et al., 2020; Kleiman et al., 2013).
Meaning in Life: Gratitude, along with traits like grit, enhances the sense of meaning in life, which serves as a resilience factor against suicide. Individuals with high levels of gratitude and grit report fewer suicidal ideations over time (Kleiman et al., 2013).
Interpersonal Functioning: Gratitude improves interpersonal functioning by fostering social support and reducing depressive symptoms, which are critical in lowering suicidal ideation, especially among vulnerable groups such as sexual minorities and veterans (Kaniuka et al., 2020; Umucu et al., 2021).
Effectiveness of Gratitude Interventions
Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations: Gratitude interventions have shown promise in both clinical settings, such as psychiatric hospitals, and non-clinical settings, like among college students and internet users with high suicidal ideation. These interventions can effectively reduce suicidal thoughts by enhancing gratitude and related positive emotions (Schnitker et al., 2021; Sueki and Ishikawa, 2021; Krysińska, 2018).
Feasibility and Utility: Studies indicate that gratitude interventions are feasible and can be effectively implemented as part of suicide prevention strategies. They are particularly useful for individuals who may not have access to traditional psychiatric care (Sueki and Ishikawa, 2021).
Challenges and Future Directions
Mediating Factors: While gratitude is linked to reduced suicidal ideation, its effects can be mediated by factors such as self-esteem and coping efficacy. The impact of gratitude is more pronounced in individuals experiencing fewer stressful life events (Li et al., 2012).
Research Gaps: Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of gratitude interventions and to identify the most effective ways to cultivate gratitude in diverse populations. Understanding the interaction between gratitude and other protective factors could enhance the development of comprehensive suicide prevention programs (Krysińska et al., 2015).
In conclusion, gratitude emerges as a significant protective factor against suicide, offering a promising avenue for intervention. By fostering positive emotions and enhancing meaning in life, gratitude can play a crucial role in reducing suicidal ideation and behavior across various populations.
References
Schnitker, S., Currier, J., Abernethy, A., Witvliet, v., Foster, J., Luna, L., VanHarn, K., & Carter, J., 2021. Gratitude and Patience Moderate Meaning Struggles and Suicidal Risk in a Cross-Sectional Study of Inpatients at a Christian Psychiatric Hospital.. Journal of personality. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12644
Kaniuka, A., Rabon, J., Brooks, B., Sirois, F., Kleiman, E., & Hirsch, J., 2020. Gratitude and suicide risk among college students: Substantiating the protective benefits of being thankful. Journal of American College Health, 69, pp. 660 – 667. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2019.1705838
Kleiman, E., Adams, L., Kashdan, T., & Riskind, J., 2013. Gratitude and grit indirectly reduce risk of suicidal ideations by enhancing meaning in life: Evidence for a mediated moderation model. Journal of Research in Personality, 47, pp. 539-546. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JRP.2013.04.007
Kaniuka, A., Job, S., Brooks, B., & Williams, S., 2020. Gratitude and lower suicidal ideation among sexual minority individuals: theoretical mechanisms of the protective role of attention to the positive. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16, pp. 819 – 830. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1818814
Sueki, H., & Ishikawa, K., 2021. The feasibility and utility of gratitude intervention for suicidal internet users. **. https://doi.org/10.31234/OSF.IO/VZCU2
Kleiman, E., Adams, L., Kashdan, T., & Riskind, J., 2013. Grateful individuals are not suicidal: Buffering risks associated with hopelessness and depressive symptoms. Personality and Individual Differences, 55, pp. 595-599. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PAID.2013.05.002
Krysińska, K., 2018. Gratitude as a Protective Factor for Suicidal Ideation and Behaviour: The Theory and the Evidence Base. **, pp. 89-110. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03225-8_5
Umucu, E., Lo, C., Lee, B., Vargas-Medrano, J., Diaz-Pacheco, V., Misra, K., Martin, S., Thompson, P., & Gadad, B., 2021. Is Gratitude Associated With Suicidal Ideation in Veterans With Mental Illness and Student Veterans With PTSD Symptoms?. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 210, pp. 26 – 31. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000001406
Krysińska, K., Lester, D., Lyke, J., & Corveleyn, J., 2015. Trait gratitude and suicidal ideation and behavior: an exploratory study.. Crisis, 36 4, pp. 291-6. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000320
Li, D., Zhang, W., Li, X., Li, N., & Ye, B., 2012. Gratitude and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among Chinese adolescents: direct, mediated, and moderated effects.. Journal of adolescence, 35 1, pp. 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.06.005
