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Understanding Suicide Risks: Insights from Ethiopia's 10-Year Study

Understanding Suicide Risks: Insights from Ethiopia\'s 10-Year Study

Understanding Suicide Risks: Insights from Ethiopia's 10-Year Study

In the realm of mental health, data-driven decisions are pivotal in creating effective interventions. A recent study titled "Suicide and suicide attempts in people with severe mental disorders in Butajira, Ethiopia: 10-year follow-up of a population-based cohort" provides valuable insights into the patterns of suicidal behavior among individuals with severe mental disorders (SMD) in a rural Ethiopian setting. This research is particularly significant as it sheds light on a demographic that is often underrepresented in global mental health research.

Key Findings

The study followed 919 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and bipolar I disorder over a decade. The findings revealed a high incidence of suicide attempts and completions, with hanging being the most common method. Notably, the cumulative risk of suicide attempts was highest among those with major depression (26.3%), followed by bipolar I disorder (23.8%), and schizophrenia (13.1%).

Risk Factors

Several risk factors were identified:

Implications for Practitioners

For practitioners working with children and adolescents, these findings underscore the importance of early intervention and continuous monitoring of mental health symptoms. Here are some actionable steps:

Encouraging Further Research

This study highlights the need for further research into the cultural and societal factors that influence suicidal behavior in low and middle-income countries. Understanding these nuances can help tailor interventions that are culturally sensitive and effective.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Suicide and suicide attempts in people with severe mental disorders in Butajira, Ethiopia: 10-year follow-up of a population-based cohort.


Citation: Shibre, T., Hanlon, C., Medhin, G., Alem, A., Kebede, D., Teferra, S., Kullgren, G., Jacobsson, L., & Fekadu, A. (2014). Suicide and suicide attempts in people with severe mental disorders in Butajira, Ethiopia: 10-year follow-up of a population-based cohort. BMC Psychiatry, 14, 150. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-14-150
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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