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Attempted Suicide, Self‐Harm, and Violent Victimization among Regular Illicit Drug Users
Author(s) -
Darke Shane,
Torok Michelle,
Kaye Sharlene,
Ross Joanne
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2010.40.6.587
Subject(s) - poison control , suicide prevention , injury prevention , harm , psychiatry , population , human factors and ergonomics , occupational safety and health , medicine , suicide attempt , psychology , medical emergency , environmental health , social psychology , pathology
Relationships among attempted suicide, nonsuicidal self‐harm, and physical assault were examined in 400 regular users of heroin and/or psychostimulants. Twenty‐eight percent had episodes of nonsuicidal self‐harm, 32% had attempted suicide, and 95% had been violently assaulted. The number of suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self‐harm incidents were correlated (ρ = 0.44). There were also significant correlations between the number of assaults and nonsuicidal self‐harm incidents (ρ = 0.17), and suicide attempts (ρ = 0.27). The mean age onset for non‐suicidal self‐harm (18.9 yrs) was significantly younger than that of initial suicide (22.3 yrs). The age at initial physical assault (16.0yrs) was significantly younger than that of nonsuicidal self‐harm and initial suicide attempt. Screening for all forms of violence appears warranted when determining suicide risk for this population.