Heredity, environmental factors, and epigenetics contribute to #suiciderisk.
There is a 2.1 to 2.7-fold increase of #suiciderisk in relatives of #suicide victims.
Family #suicide history should be considered a strong risk factor and heavily inform one’s overall level of risk and safety planning.
A family history of #suicide is correlated with a 2.1 to 2.75-fold risk increase in relatives (e.g., Qin, 2003; Jang et al., 2002). When presented with this information, #students and concerned #parents have asked me, “Is #suicide something genetic?”
My answer is, “It depends.”
As noted by Hoehne et al. (2015), “The heritability of #suicide is well-established.” If, however, by “genetic,” one means the inheritance of a specific, self-destructive gene that pointedly leads to #suicide, then no, that’s not been discovered. If someone means #suicide is influenced by genetics, that’s a different story.
A multifactorial blueprint
To start, one might figure that such genetic influence is rooted in, say, #depression, a disorder known for genetic factors that are highly correlated with suicidal activity. For example, Zai et al. (2012) wrote, “In a study of #suicide records dating from 1880 to 1980 in an Amish community, Egeland and Sussex (1985) found 26 reported suicides that aggregated within four families who also had a high incidence of #mooddisorders….” They continued, however, “The authors also found other families that were affected by multiple #mooddisorders but had no history of #suicidalbehavior.” Next, add to this the statement from Diblasi et al. (2021), “Broadly, molecular studies suggest a complexity of #suicide etiology that cannot simply be accounted for by #depression.”
Based on the above two researchers’ statements, it’s clear that genetics influence #depression, and while some depressed people become suicidal, it’s more complicated than the influence of any inherited mood alone. The “ingredients” are perhaps best encapsulated by Kouter et al. (2019), who wrote, “[#Suicide] is a result of the interplay between hereditary and environmental factors, tied together by epigenetics.”
A survey of biogenetic factors
In more recent years, increasingly-sophisticated medical technology has allowed researchers to examine specific aspects of brain anatomy and genes that contribute to suicidal activity. For example, Cha et al. (2017), citing Gosnell et al. (2016), provided: “The hippocampus, which is connected with the body’s #stress response system and important in mood regulation and memory, has been found to be structurally abnormal in #suicide attempters. The [dorsolateral prefrontal cortex] is involved in goal-directed #behavior, decision-making, and emotion regulation and is also found to be structurally abnormal in #suicide attempters.”
Further, there is the ventral prefrontal cortex (VPC), which is important in “binding together the large-scale networks that subserve emotional processing, decision-making…” (Gage & Baars, 2018). The VPC seems influenced by molecular-level complications, illustrating the role of biological or genetic intricacies underlying some people’s suicidal activity.
To expand, Leonard (2005), for example, noted postmortem studies of depressed people found that the VPC showed serotonin deficits. Serotonin is believed to be essential in controlling aggressive or impulsive #behaviors (e.g., Popova, 2008). Leonard surmised this implies a dysfunction in the serotonergic system, for which “there is increasing evidence of a genetic basis.”
This said, biological contributions quickly become more complicated, going from gray matter to microbiology. Readers interested in an in-depth review of molecular contributions may be interested in reading Turecki’s 2014 paper, The Molecular Bases of the Suicidal Brain. In brief, the author explained how early-life adverse environmental factors (epigenetics) can alter gene expression, which influences #stress response associated with a lifetime susceptibility to #suicidalbehavior. As for the #suicide-#stress response link, O’Connor (2020) pointed out that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation is a particular culprit, which, as noted by Berardelli et al. (2020), disrupts healthy neurotransmission. To add to this more specifically, Oquendo et al. (2014) observed that an altered #stress response seems responsible for downstream effects in the form of the aforementioned serotonin system abnormalities.
If this seems overwhelming, bear in mind that it is only a glimpse of the research on the bio-genetic factors of #suicide. In addition, is it chicken or egg? Do people with the above complications have more proneness to being depressed, a state of being that then interacts with those factors for a dangerous cocktail? Or does being depressed initiate some of the bio-genetic abnormalities that are correlated with #suicideattempts?
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Outside of #psychiatrists prescribing antidepressants, clinicians likely aren’t able to change someone’s bio-genetics. Further, antidepressants alone likely cannot alter such a complicated equation to eradicate bio-genetic risk factors entirely. There may also be cultural factors related to the family for clinicians to consider. For instance, Jang et al. (2022) discovered that South Korean survivors of #suicide victims were three times more likely to die by #suicide. Interestingly, this was especially true for wives whose husbands died by #suicide.
The best that clinicians can do is: 1) Always ask about a family history of #suicide, and 2) if present, weigh it as a significant factor when deciding someone’s level of risk or the observation or safety planning required.
If you or someone you love is contemplating #suicide, seek help immediately. For help 24/7, dial #988 for the #NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline, or reach out to the #CrisisTextLine by texting TALK to 741741. To find a #therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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