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Suicide is a complex public health issue that affects individuals across various demographic groups. While suicide can impact anyone, certain populations are considered more vulnerable due to their unique experiences and challenges. This literature review aims to explore the factors contributing to suicide rates within vulnerable populations, including LGBTQ individuals, immigrants, military personnel, disabled individuals, the elderly, victims of domestic violence, terminally ill patients, addicts, the mentally ill, and incarcerated individuals.
LGBTQ Population: Research indicates that LGBTQ individuals face significantly higher rates of suicide compared to the general population. Discrimination, social stigma, rejection, and lack of access to affirming healthcare services contribute to their increased vulnerability. Protective factors such as social support and acceptance play crucial roles in reducing suicide risk among LGBTQ individuals. LGBTQ youth contemplate suicide almost three times more than heterosexual youth, with approximately 40% of transgender adults reporting a suicide attempt in their lifetime. The suicide attempt rate among LGBTQ youth is four times greater than that of heterosexual youth.
Immigrants: Immigrants often experience stressors related to acculturation, language barriers, discrimination, and separation from their social support networks. These factors can exacerbate mental health issues and increase suicide risk among immigrant populations. Access to culturally sensitive mental health services and social integration programs are essential for suicide prevention in immigrant communities. Immigrants often face higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts compared to the general population, with factors such as acculturation stress contributing significantly.
Military Personnel: Military personnel and veterans face unique stressors such as combat exposure, traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and challenges in transitioning to civilian life. These factors contribute to elevated suicide rates within this population. Effective prevention strategies include early detection of mental health issues, access to mental health care, and peer support programs. In the United States, the suicide rate among active-duty service members reached a peak in 2012 and has remained a persistent concern. Veterans, particularly those who served in combat zones, have elevated rates of suicide compared to the general population.
Individuals With Disabilities: Disabled individuals often encounter societal barriers, including limited access to education, employment, and healthcare services. These challenges, coupled with social isolation and stigma, elevate their risk of suicide. Suicide prevention efforts must address structural inequalities and provide support services tailored to the needs of disabled individuals. Disabled individuals are at a higher risk of suicide, with studies suggesting that they are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-disabled counterparts.
Elderly: Elderly individuals face multiple risk factors for suicide, including physical illness, chronic pain, social isolation, bereavement, and mental health disorders such as depression. Detecting and addressing these risk factors through comprehensive geriatric assessments, community support programs, and mental health interventions are crucial for suicide prevention among the elderly. In many countries, the elderly have elevated suicide rates, with men over the age of 85 having one of the highest rates of suicide globally.
Victims of Domestic Violence: Victims of domestic violence are at heightened risk of suicide due to the trauma, fear, and feelings of hopelessness associated with their experiences. Interventions aimed at empowering survivors, providing safe shelter, legal advocacy, and trauma-informed mental health care are essential for mitigating suicide risk in this population. Victims of domestic violence, particularly women, have a significantly increased risk of suicide. Studies suggest that they are at least three times more likely to attempt suicide compared to those who have not experienced domestic violence.
Terminally Ill Patients: Terminally ill patients face existential distress, physical pain, loss of autonomy, and concerns about burdening their loved ones. Palliative care, psychological support, advance care planning, and access to assisted dying options can alleviate suffering and provide a sense of control, reducing the likelihood of suicide among terminally ill individuals. While statistics vary, research indicates that terminally ill individuals have a higher risk of suicide than the general population, particularly in jurisdictions where assisted dying is not legally available.
Those With Addictions: Substance abuse and addiction are significant risk factors for suicide, often co-occurring with mental health disorders. Addressing substance abuse through comprehensive treatment approaches, including detoxification, therapy, and support groups, is essential for suicide prevention among individuals struggling with addiction. Individuals struggling with substance abuse and addiction have a substantially higher risk of suicide compared to the general population, with rates varying based on the type of substance used and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Those With Mental Illness: Individuals with mental illness are at increased risk of suicide, particularly those with mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. Early intervention, access to mental health services, medication management, psychotherapy, and support networks are crucial for suicide prevention in this population. Approximately 90% of individuals who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental illness at the time of their death, with mood disorders such as depression being the most common.
Incarcerated Individuals: Incarcerated individuals face numerous stressors, including overcrowding, violence, lack of access to mental health care, and social isolation. Suicide risk among prisoners is heightened by factors such as substance abuse, mental illness, and previous suicide attempts. Suicide prevention efforts in correctional facilities should prioritize mental health screenings, suicide risk assessments, and suicide prevention programs. Suicide rates in correctional facilities tend to be higher than in the general population, with studies suggesting that prisoners are several times more likely to die by suicide compared to individuals in the community.
Suicide rates among vulnerable populations are influenced by a myriad of interconnected factors, including social, economic, and psychological determinants. Addressing these complex issues requires comprehensive, multi-sectoral approaches that prioritize prevention, early intervention, and access to culturally competent and inclusive support services. By understanding the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations, stakeholders can develop targeted strategies to reduce suicide rates and promote mental well-being across diverse communities.