Study Says It is Possible to Identify People Who are at High Risk of Committing Suicide

A new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry suggests that people who are going to commit suicide can be identified and can also be helped via psychological counseling. Researchers from Columbia University have developed a Columbia Suicide Rating Scale which they say can be used by mental health experts to identify those who are more likely to commit suicide. The researchers said that the mental health experts can then provide various treatments or counseling to prevent such attempts.

The scale was created after the researchers observed 312 teens who suffered from depression, 124 teens who attempted suicide and 247 adults who were admitted to emergency hospitals due to psychiatric problems. Statistical results indicated that the odds of attempting suicide during the study period increased by about 45% for every one standard-deviation increase in the level of lifetime suicidal ideation.

“Prevention depends upon appropriate screening and identification. It's about saving lives and directing limited resources to the people who actually need them”, lead researcher Kelly Posner said.

Source-Medindia