Binge drinking was an important predictor of actual suicide attempts as
compared to suicidal thoughts, even after accounting for high levels of
depression and stress, according to Michael Windle, Ph.D., of the University
of Alabama at Birmingham. The findings appear in the journal Alcoholism:
Clinical and Experimental Research.
Such behavior may be a better predictor of actual suicide
attempts “because
binge drinking episodes frequently precede serious suicide attempts,” Windle
says.
Depressed teens were also more likely than other teens to report suicidal
thoughts and attempts and to say they had told others about their suicide
plans, Windle found. Stressful life events, from a parent dying to failing
a class, were also good predictors of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Windle surveyed 1,218 sophomores and juniors at several Buffalo high schools
to determine how a variety of factors, including drinking patterns, emotional
support from family and individual temperament, might be used to predict
suicidal behavior among teens.
The percentage of adolescents with suicidal thoughts was 28 percent. About
13 percent of the teens told someone about their suicidal thoughts and
4 percent of the total group attempted suicide.
Teens who said they drank to “cope” or “relax,” who
had a high percentage of drinking friends or who said they had low levels
of family support were more likely to report stressful events, depression
and bingeing, the research found.
The links between drinking and suicidal behavior are probably
complex, according to Windle. For instance, high levels of drinking among
teens
may be related to coping strategies and a family history of alcoholism,
which could provoke stressful events. An increase in stressful events “in
turn, may contribute to higher levels of depression and increased drinking
to self-medicate depressed mood states,” Windle says.
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 14-18 year olds in the
United States. The suicide rate among that age group has doubled since
30 years ago, the study noted.
