OBJECTIVE: Suicide is major public health problem in India. The objective of the analyses presented in this paper is to examine depressive and anxiety symptoms and socio-demographic indicators as correlates of suicidal ideation and attempts among people who inject drugs (PWID), a high-risk group for suicide. METHOD: We analysed data collected in April-May of 2012 from a community-based sample of 420 PWID in Delhi using time location sampling. Self-report symptom scales were used to measure the severity of symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-2) within the preceding 2 weeks. We assessed the presence of suicidal thoughts within the past 12 months. RESULTS: Depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with suicidal ideation, as were a range of social stressors including poor physical health, length of injecting drug use, housing insecurity, and experiences of violence and sexual abuse. However, depressive and anxiety symptoms were not associated with suicide attempts. Factors associated with suicide attempts among ideators were housing insecurity and relational dynamics including a poor relationship with family and, interestingly, being married. CONCLUSION: Suicide prevention interventions among this population should address not only individual mental health and addiction support needs but also the overwhelmingly poor psychosocial circumstances of this group.
OBJECTIVE: Suicide is major public health problem in India. The objective of the analyses presented in this paper is to examine depressive and anxiety symptoms and socio-demographic indicators as correlates of suicidal ideation and attempts among people who inject drugs (PWID), a high-risk group for suicide. METHOD: We analysed data collected in April-May of 2012 from a community-based sample of 420 PWID in Delhi using time location sampling. Self-report symptom scales were used to measure the severity of symptoms of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-2) within the preceding 2 weeks. We assessed the presence of suicidal thoughts within the past 12 months. RESULTS:Depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with suicidal ideation, as were a range of social stressors including poor physical health, length of injecting drug use, housing insecurity, and experiences of violence and sexual abuse. However, depressive and anxiety symptoms were not associated with suicide attempts. Factors associated with suicide attempts among ideators were housing insecurity and relational dynamics including a poor relationship with family and, interestingly, being married. CONCLUSION: Suicide prevention interventions among this population should address not only individual mental health and addiction support needs but also the overwhelmingly poor psychosocial circumstances of this group.
Authors: Vincent Chin-Hung Chen; Tsang-Yaw Lin; Charles Tzu-Chi Lee; Te-Jen Lai; Hong Chen; Cleusa P Ferri; Michael Gossop Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2010-01-22 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Carl Latkin; Aylur K Srikrishnan; Cui Yang; Sethulakshmi Johnson; Sunil S Solomon; Suresh Kumar; David D Celentano; Suniti Solomon Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2010-05-13 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Paula Braitstein; Kathy Li; Mark Tyndall; Patricia Spittal; Michael V O'Shaughnessy; Arn Schilder; Caitlin Johnston; Robert S Hogg; Martin T Schechter Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2003-08 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Ashleigh C Stewart; Reece Cossar; Paul Dietze; Gregory Armstrong; Michael Curtis; Stuart A Kinner; James R P Ogloff; Amy Kirwan; Mark Stoové Journal: Health Justice Date: 2018-10-15