Hospitalizations for #substanceusedisorder are much more common among #female #children and #teens who have a history of #suicideattempts, a study suggests.
Young #women and #girls are more likely to develop serious #substanceuse problems after a #suicideattempt, a study suggests.
Researchers followed more than 122,000 #female #youths for about three decades, starting when they were 8 to 19 years old. Overall, about 5,800 of them, or slightly less than 5 percent, had attempted #suicide.
During follow-up, #women who had a history of attempted #suicide were 5 times more likely to be hospitalized for a #substanceusedisorder, researchers reported in JAMA Psychiatry. The odds rose with the number of #suicideattempts, with three or more #suicideattempts associated with 21 times the risk of #substanceuse hospitalizations.
While the risk of developing #substanceusedisorders was highest over the first five years after a #suicideattempt, these #women remained at increased risk for even after 15 years or more had passed.
How #women attempted #suicide also influenced their risk of substance use in the future. Jumping, for example, was associated with a roughly tripled risk of #substanceuse hospitalizations, while the risk was at least 10 times greater for hanging, suffocation, or other violent means.
Not all substances carried the same risk. #Women with a history of attempted #suicide were more than 30 times more likely to be hospitalized for misusing sedatives or hypnotic drugs, and more than 16 times more apt to misuse hallucinogens. By contrast, they had 9 times the risk of hospitalization for #alcohol use disorder, and about 5 times the risk for opioid misuse.
One limitation of the study is that it wasn’t designed to determine how a history of attempted #suicide might directly cause substance use problems in the future. It’s also possible that some of the same underlying issues that contributed to the #suicideattempt — such as #mentalillness, exposure to trauma, or a family history of #suicide or substance use — also contributed to #substanceusedisorders, the researchers point out.
#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,
Celebrating Your Gift of Life:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
#Suicideattempts can also exacerbate underlying #depression or #mentalhealthconditions, which in turn make #women more vulnerable to #substanceusedisorders down the line, the researchers note.
“The findings underscore the importance of screening #youths for #mentalhealthconditions and suicidality,” the study team writes.
“#Adolescents who are admitted to the hospital after a #suicideattempt frequently undergo emotional and psychosocial assessments, but few receive further psychotherapy after discharge,” they write. The study findings suggest that this needs to change.
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:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
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
