Parents with Suicidal Behavior: Parenting is Not Always Protective

Abstract

Deaths by suicide and nonfatal suicide attempts are pervasive problems in the United States, especially among those of child-bearing age. Prior research has indicated that parenthood is a protective factor against suicide. However, no study has examined the reasons for why some parents attempt suicide. Questionnaires (n = 87) and follow-up interviews (n = 75) were completed with parents who recently attempted suicide and were recruited in the Emergency Department. Respondents reported family or relationship problems, depression, and child-related issues as the most common reasons for their attempt. Those who identified parenting as an impetus endorsed significantly more symptoms of depression and higher levels of stress related to dysfunctional parent-child interactions. Over a third of parents reported their child had been informed of their suicide attempt, and nearly a fourth of parents reported their child had been present at the time of the suicide attempt. These findings indicate that parenthood can be a risk factor for suicide among parents with high parenting stress or those experiencing custody issues.

What are the risk factors and protective factors of suicidal behavior in adolescents? A systematic review

“…The relationship between children and people is a protective factor as well as a factor that moderates between maternal severe chronic depression with suicidal ideation in adolescents aged 16 years (Hammerton et al, 2016). Interaction between parents and family is a protective factor of suicide behavior, but family (parents) can also be a risk factor for suicide behavior in adolescents (Cerel, Frey, Maple, & Kinner, 2016; Lensch et al, 2018). Although peers relate to suicidal behavior, the effect of peer support is less influential compared with parent support (MacKin et al, 2017).…”

Systematic Literature Review of Attempted Suicide and Offspring

“…Of these, 68 were excluded as they pertained to bereavement support/intervention in parent’s suicide ( n = 2) [ 33 , 34 ], interventions for adolescents ( n = 8) [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ], transmission and risk of suicidal behavior and other problems ( n = 22) [ 1 , 11 , 12 , 16 , 17 , 19 , 25 , 28 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ], other reasons ( n = 15) [ 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ], family member’s experiences ( n = 9) [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 72 , 73 ...…”

“…There are no prevalent figures of how many children are exposed to a parent’s suicide attempt annually. Cerel found that 23% of children with a parent being treated in the emergency department after attempting suicide had been present and witnessed the episode [ 1 ]. In a study of adverse childhood experiences, four percent of the 13,494 adults that answered a questionnaire reported a parental suicide attempt [ 2 ].…”

“…Adolescents who had experienced the suicide attempt of a family member were also more likely than those with no exposure to report cigarette and marijuana use, alcohol misuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, fighting and inflicting injuries, decreased life-expectancy, emotional distress, and decreased adolescent reports of parent–child and family connectedness [ 1 ].…”

Violence and depression in a community sample

“…, Cerel et al . ). According to several studies, violence is also associated with psychiatric conditions such as mixed anxiety–major depressive, adjustment, anxiety and post‐traumatic stress disorders (Fornés et al .…”