Poverty Leads to More Youth Suicide

(October 26, 2008) - Poverty appears to be one of the risk factors for suicide (Read about "Suicide Prevention"), especially among young people. Youth in their late teens who live in poor neighborhoods are four times more likely to attempt suicide than youth who live in more affluent neighborhoods, according to a new study. The researchers also found youth from poor neighborhoods are twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts.

The study showed that late teens from disadvantaged neighborhoods had higher levels of depressive symptoms (Read about "Depressive Illnesses") along with lower levels of social support, but these factors could not fully explain why these youth were at an increased risk to consider ending their own lives. "Rather, they were more vulnerable because difficult events, such as personally knowing someone who has committed suicide or experiencing a painful breakup with a romantic partner, apparently led to increased suicidal thoughts or attempts," says Véronique Dupéré, lead author of the study. "In other words, difficult events seemed to have a more dramatic impact on these teenagers."

Among teenagers from across all socioeconomic backgrounds, the research team found that hyperactivity and impulsivity, depression, substance use, low social support, exposure to suicide and negative life events increased vulnerability to suicide thoughts and attempts. "But among youth in disadvantaged neighborhoods, hyperactivity and impulsivity was even more strongly associated with suicidal behaviors," says Éric Lacourse, another author of the study. "We observed that community adversity could amplify a young person's vulnerability to consider suicide."