Josep Maria Suelves
Researcher at the Behavioural Design Lab at the UOC eHealth Centre, member of the board of directors of the Public Health Society of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, and vice-chairman of the National Committee for the Prevention of Smoking
Suicide is a major social and public health issue that causes the premature loss of thousands of lives each year and brings suffering to an even greater number of survivors. Certain groups, such as individuals with schizophrenia, depression, or substance use disorders involving alcohol and other drugs, are at a higher risk of developing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
Like most health problems, suicide does not stem from a single cause nor is it solely attributable to individual factors. Age, gender, unwanted loneliness, unemployment, and easy access to means of suicide are some of the known determinants of suicidal behavior. There is also evidence indicating that individuals with certain chronic illnesses face a higher risk of dying by suicide.
A study recently published in JAMA Neurology investigated the association between different types of headaches and suicidal behavior. To do so, the authors conducted a case-control study using a large population-based registry to compare the incidence of fatal and non-fatal suicides among 119,486 individuals diagnosed with a headache disorder and 597,430 matched controls with similar characteristics in terms of age, sex, and other sociodemographic variables. Over the 15 years following diagnosis, a higher incidence of both fatal and non-fatal suicides was observed among individuals with headaches. The results also suggest that the incidence of suicidal behavior—both fatal and non-fatal—was higher in cases of more severe headaches, such as trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias or post-traumatic headaches. However, no differences were observed in the strength of the association between headaches and suicide based on age, social conditions, or sex.
The results of this study are particularly robust due to the large sample size and demonstrate a higher risk of suicide among those suffering from a chronic condition like headaches, which negatively impacts quality of life. In line with these findings, and as the study concludes, it is reasonable to consider that early and adequate treatment of headaches and other chronic illnesses could help reduce suicide mortality. Additionally, it would be advisable to incorporate suicide risk assessment and behavioral support into the follow-up care of individuals suffering from these disorders.