Nurturing physical health
Nurturing physical health has been explored as a potential alternative strategy for suicide prevention. This approach focuses on the role of physical activity and overall physical health in reducing suicidal ideation and behavior. The research in this area examines the associations between physical health, mental health, and suicide risk, highlighting the potential benefits of physical activity as a protective factor.
Physical Activity and Suicide Prevention
Association with Suicidal Ideation: Studies have shown that higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower levels of suicidal ideation across various age groups, including adults, adolescents, and older adults. Meeting physical activity guidelines has been found to confer a protective effect against suicidal thoughts, while inactivity is linked to increased suicidal ideation (Vancampfort et al., 2018; Grasdalsmoen et al., 2020).
Mediation by Positive Mental Health: Physical activity not only directly reduces suicide-related outcomes but also enhances positive mental health, which in turn mediates the relationship between physical activity and reduced suicide risk. This suggests that fostering both physical activity and positive mental health can be effective strategies in suicide prevention (Brailovskaia, Teismann and Margraf, 2020).
Physical Health Conditions and Suicide Risk
Impact of Physical Illness: Physical illnesses, particularly those that limit daily activities, have been associated with an increased risk of suicide. The disruption caused by physical health conditions, rather than the number of conditions, is a significant predictor of suicide risk, especially in younger individuals (Onyeka et al., 2019).
Role of Multimorbidity: Having multiple physical health conditions significantly increases the risk of suicide. Conditions such as traumatic brain injury, sleep disorders, and HIV/AIDS are particularly associated with higher suicide risk, even after adjusting for mental health and substance use disorders (Ahmedani et al., 2017).
Challenges and Future Directions
Need for Prospective Studies: While current findings suggest a beneficial role of physical activity in reducing suicidal ideation, most studies are cross-sectional. There is a need for prospective observational studies and controlled trials to confirm these associations and better understand the causal relationships (Vancampfort et al., 2018).
Integration of Mental and Physical Health: Effective suicide prevention strategies should integrate the management of both mental and physical health conditions. This includes addressing depression, which is a stronger risk factor for suicide than physical illness alone, and considering the psychosocial stressors that may mediate the relationship between physical health and suicide (Fiske, O’Riley and Widoe, 2008; Black et al., 2019).
Conclusion
Nurturing physical health through regular physical activity and managing physical health conditions can play a crucial role in suicide prevention. While physical activity has shown promise in reducing suicidal ideation and enhancing mental health, further research is needed to establish causal relationships and develop comprehensive prevention strategies that address both physical and mental health aspects.
References
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
Brailovskaia, J., Teismann, T., & Margraf, J., 2020. Positive mental health mediates the relationship between physical activity and suicide-related outcomes: a three-year follow-up study. Current Psychology, 41, pp. 6543 – 6548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01152-x
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
Fiske, A., O’Riley, A., & Widoe, R., 2008. Physical Health and Suicide in Late Life: An Evaluative Review. Clinical Gerontologist, 31, pp. 31 – 50. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317110801947151
Black, J., Bond, M., Hawkins, R., & Black, E., 2019. Test of a clinical model of poor physical health and suicide: The role of depression, psychosocial stress, interpersonal conflict, and panic.. Journal of affective disorders, 257, pp. 404-411. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JAD.2019.05.079
Onyeka, I., Ross, E., Maguire, A., & O’Reilly, D., 2019. Does physical ill-health increase the risk of suicide? A census-based follow-up study of over 1 million people. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 29. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796020000529
Ahmedani, B., Peterson, E., Hu, Y., Rossom, R., Lynch, F., Lu, C., Waitzfelder, B., Owen‐Smith, A., Hubley, S., Prabhakar, D., Williams, L., Zeld, N., Mutter, E., Beck, A., Tolsma, D., & Simon, G., 2017. Major Physical Health Conditions and Risk of Suicide.. American journal of preventive medicine, 53 3, pp. 308-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2017.04.001
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
