Psychosocial Factors Related to Suicidal Attempts in Adults

Abstract

In the south of Portugal, suicide rates are more prevalent compared to other regions. We will present the results of an on-going research, carried out with the main purpose of analysing different risk factors associated to suicidal attemps in a sample of 60 adults, both males and females, recurring to emergency room in a general hospital. A multimodal assessment matrix will be used to evaluate depression, suicidal ideation and intention, and individual, social, and environmental factors commonly related to the onset of major depression, namely hopelessness and pessimism, cognitive processing, interpersonal relations, life events. We expect to find a positive correlation between hopelessness and the indicators of suicidal attempts and also a mediator effect, of cognitive processes, on the relationship between hopelessness and pessimism with depression and, consequently, suicidal intention.