October 1, 2007

Brain Star Award (biweekly award to trainees)

Recipient

Shay-Lee Belik - Biosketch
MSc Dept of Community Health Sciences
Unversity of Manitoba

Article

Belik SL, Cox BJ, Stein MB, Asmundson GJG, Sareen J. (2007). Traumatic Events and Suicidal Behavior: Results from a National Mental Health Survey. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 195:342-349.

Significance of the paper

This manuscript examined whether exposure to different types of traumatic events was differentially associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and presence of mental and physical disorders. We used a US population-based dataset to demonstrate an association between interpersonal traumatic events and exposure to three or more types of traumatic events with suicidal behaviors in both males and females. Age of onset analyses revealed that the age of traumatic exposure was earlier than the age at which suicidal behaviors began in the majority of respondents. The results imply that exposure to traumatic events is associated with the incidence of suicidal behaviors above and beyond the effect of sociodemographic factors, mental disorders, and physical disorders. These findings illustrate an important answer to a research question that goes beyond demonstrating an association between a psychiatric diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and examining whether specific types of traumatic life events are particularly associated with suicidal behavior. This novel and innovative approach, which demonstrates a specific link between traumatic events and suicidal behavior, applies to a large segment of our society. Many individuals experience traumatic events in our society; however, only a small minority develop PTSD. It is important to understand that a large number of individuals are emotionally affected and even suicidal following exposure to traumatic life events. Clinicians and researchers need to be aware of these findings. The article points to the significant public health impact of traumatic events in the community and the need for prevention strategies for suicidal behaviors in individuals who have experienced trauma.