Association between support system and suicidal ideation among individuals with severe psychiatric disorders
Keywords:
Severe Mental Illness, Social Support, SuicideAbstract
Background: Individuals with psychiatric disorders are particularly vulnerable to loneliness, which can exacerbate their symptoms and hinder recovery. A lack of a strong support system is frequently linked to an increased risk of suicidal ideation. Social support plays a crucial role in the prognosis and treatment outcomes of psychiatric disorders. Given its significance, this study examines the association between the support system and suicidal ideation among individuals with severe psychiatric illness. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional, hospital-based observational design. A total of 110 participants diagnosed with severe psychiatric illness based on ICD-10 criteria were included. A self-prepared checklist was used to collect demographic details, while the Social Support Questionnaire and the Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale were administered to assess social support and suicidal ideation, respectively. Results: The participants had a mean age of 33 years, with 67% being male. Overall, 66.37% of the participants exhibited some degree of suicidal ideation. Regression analysis indicated that social support accounted for 20% of the variance in suicidal ideation (R² = 0.20, p < .001), demonstrating a significant association between the two variables. A weaker social support system was associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Social support system having a strong association to control suicidal ideation in persons with psychiatric illness suggests providing social support and care that can be one effective approach to improving suicide prevention worldwide.
Keywords: Severe mental illness, social support, suicide
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