A Review of Advances in Social Sciences and their Application for Research in Suicidal Behavior

Abstract

Suicidal behavior and its prevention constitute a major public health issue, and the moderating effect of sociodemographic factors has been studied for more than a century. In the last years it has become evident that the relationship between social factors and suicidal behavior is complex and highly dependent on the context. For instance, minorities suffering marginalization, such as the Inuit in Canada or the aborigines in Australia, present high rates of suicide. However, other minorities, such as immigrants arriving to tightened communities, can be protected from suicide compared to the social majority. Other contradictory effects have been reported concerning income per capita and the evolution of the economy. Unfortunately, the interplay of social factors in suicidal behavior and the social consequences of suicide attempts are rarely represented in theoretical models of suicidal behavior, despite their importance to adapt suicide prevention policies to social groups at risk. In this presentation, recent advances and new and integrative avenues for future research in the social aspects of suicidal behavior will be summarized.

Disclosure of interest

The author declares that he has no competing interest.