Abused children suicide-prone as adults

Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page A7

January 11, 2019

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Abused children suicide-prone as adults

Source: Xinhua | 00:05 UTC+8 January 11, 2019 |

Print Edition

Adults who as children experienced physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect are at least two to three times more likely to attempt suicide in later life, the largest research review ever carried out on the topic revealed.

Psychologists at the University of Manchester and University of South Wales published their findings after an analysis of 68 studies from around the world involving 262,000 adults aged 18 years or older, who were exposed to childhood abuse and neglect.

They found that suicide attempts were three times more likely for people who experienced sexual abuse as a child, and two and a half times more likely for those who experienced physical abuse as a child, or who experienced emotional abuse or neglect as a child.

Their research published in the latest edition of Psychological Medicine showed children who experienced multiple abuse are as much as five times higher to attempt suicide.

People not in contact with mental health clinicians were found to be at the highest level of risk.

Dr. Maria Panagioti, from the University of Manchester, also based at a patient safety translational research center in the city, led the research team. “Around one adult in every three has experienced abuse as a child. This study conclusively gives us solid evidence that childhood abuse and neglect is associated with increased likelihood that they will be at risk of suicide as adults,” she said.

Panagioti said current treatment for people with suicidal behavior usually centers around cognitive behavioral therapy, adding, “but that assumes people will seek help themselves. This research identifies that people who are not under the care of clinicians are at risk.”

She said a new approach is needed to identify these people, and to focus efforts on effective community intervention.

Dr. Ioannis Angelakis from the University of South Wales said, “These findings not only provided a clear picture of the connection between abuse or neglect in childhood and suicide attempts later on in life, but also recognized that efficient interventions should take a broader community-based approach.”

Opinion

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012

Abused children suicide-prone as adults

Email this to your friend