TY - JOUR
T1 - Mortality and Suicide Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness
T2 - A Seven-Year Follow-up Study
AU - Calvo, Fran
AU - Carbonell, Xavier
AU - Johnsen, Sarah
AU - Panadero, Sonia
AU - Vázquez, José Juan
AU - Alvarez, Mónica
AU - McInnes, Keith
AU - Font-Mayolas, Sílvia
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: There is a significant gap in scientific understanding about suicide among people experiencing homelessness (PEHs). METHOD: This seven-year longitudinal study examined a cohort of 154 PEHs. In 2015, clinical assessments were conducted, including an evaluation of suicide risk, with data on causes of death collected from public health service records in 2022. RESULTS: Over the course of seven years, 14.3% of the sample passed away at an average age of 52.6 years. The leading causes of death were cancer, suicide, and accidental overdose. Participants who experienced violence had a higher number of suicide attempts and scored higher on the suicidal ideation scale. The most significant factors associated with mortality were prior suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the importance of suicide risk scale scores as the primary predictor of mortality. It emphasizes the need for further longitudinal research on suicide among PEHs and the development of specific programs to prevent suicide within this population. An approach combining structural and individual perspectives is suggested, considering appropriate housing policies and mental health care.
AB - BACKGROUND: There is a significant gap in scientific understanding about suicide among people experiencing homelessness (PEHs). METHOD: This seven-year longitudinal study examined a cohort of 154 PEHs. In 2015, clinical assessments were conducted, including an evaluation of suicide risk, with data on causes of death collected from public health service records in 2022. RESULTS: Over the course of seven years, 14.3% of the sample passed away at an average age of 52.6 years. The leading causes of death were cancer, suicide, and accidental overdose. Participants who experienced violence had a higher number of suicide attempts and scored higher on the suicidal ideation scale. The most significant factors associated with mortality were prior suicide attempts and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the importance of suicide risk scale scores as the primary predictor of mortality. It emphasizes the need for further longitudinal research on suicide among PEHs and the development of specific programs to prevent suicide within this population. An approach combining structural and individual perspectives is suggested, considering appropriate housing policies and mental health care.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85208001303&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7334/psicothema2023.209
DO - 10.7334/psicothema2023.209
M3 - Article
C2 - 39466013
AN - SCOPUS:85208001303
SN - 0214-9915
VL - 36
SP - 331
EP - 340
JO - Psicothema
JF - Psicothema
IS - 4
ER -