Prevalence and associated factors of passive suicidal ideation in a population treated by a community mental health unit

Abstract

Background:

Suicide is a major public health problem affecting an increasing number of people. It is a complex and multicausal phenomenon whose first step is passive suicidal ideation (PSI). The identification of people with PSI could facilitate specific interventions with those who are at greater risk and/or suffering.

Aims:

To explore the frequency of passive suicidal ideation (PSI) and its association with sociodemographic, psychological, and psychopathological variables in a sample of persons seen in first consultation in a community mental health unit.

Methods:

Data from 2,354 persons seen in first consultation in a community mental health unit were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative variables, and frequency distribution was used for qualitative variables. Differences between groups were explored using the t-test for independent groups and Chi-square for qualitative variables.

Results:

The results showed a high frequency of these ideas in the analyzed sample, with a notable prevalence where more than half of the subjects (55.6%) reported experiencing these ideas in the last 2 weeks. There was a significant association of these ideas with sociodemographic variables such as age, type of cohabitation, and employment status. Likewise, significant positive associations were observed with symptom severity (depressive and anxious) and with the functional impact of these symptoms, with an increase in the PSI as symptom intensity and functional impact increase. Experiential avoidance and social support also showed a highly significant association with PSI. There was an increase in PSI as experiential avoidance increased and a decrease in PSI as social support increased.

Conclusions:

The high prevalence of PSI within the clinical mental health sample highlights the critical need for targeted interventions. The significant associations with sociodemographic variables, symptom severity, functional impact, experiential avoidance, and social support emphasize the multifaceted nature of PSI and the importance of addressing these factors in clinical practice to effectively reduce PSI and improve overall mental health outcomes.