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The Association between Homelessness and Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors: Results of a Cross‐sectional Survey
Author(s) -
Eynan Rahel,
Langley John,
Tolomiczenko George,
Rhodes Anne E.,
Links Paul,
Wasylenki Donald,
Goering Paula
Publication year - 2002
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.32.4.418.22341
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , psychiatry , clinical psychology , psychology , suicide prevention , cross sectional study , mental health , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , pathology
This study was carried out with three goals: (1) to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among the homeless; (2) to determine what aspects of homelessness predict suicidality; and (3) to determine which aspects remain predictive after controlling for key covariates, such as mental illness. A sample of 330 homeless adults were interviewed. Sixty‐one percent of the study sample reported suicidal ideation and 34% had attempted suicide. Fifty‐six percent of the men and 78% of the women reported prior suicidal ideation, while 28 percent of the men and 57% of the women had attempted suicide. Childhood homelessness of at least 1 week without family members and periods of homelessness longer than 6 months were found to be associated with suicidal ideation. Psychiatric diagnoses were also associated with suicidality in this sample.