Reaching the age at which a parent dies by suicide increases a child’s risk

MONDAY, Nov. 25, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Danish researchers warn that when people whose parents died by suicide reach the same age, their risk often increases.

Report in the diary Suicide and life-threatening behavior, researchers analyzed data on over 470,000 Danes whose parents died between 1980 and 2016. Of these, 17,806 people had parents who died by suicide.

The study looked at the risk of self-harm and suicide in the year before and after the age of the deceased parent – usually around 24 years later.

The risk of self-harm or suicide was approximately twice as high compared to the 15 years before and after reaching the relevant age. In people whose parent died of other causes, the risk was not increased at the same time.

“Our findings support the practice of asking people bereaved by suicide about the age at which a parent committed suicide, identifying this period as an anticipated period of increased risk,” wrote the team led by Yanakan Logeswaranfrom University College of London.

“It is also an opportunity to emphasize that suicide is not inevitable following the suicide of a parent, and the absolute risk… is estimated at less than 1%,” they added in a press release from the American Psychiatric Association.

More information

If you are feeling suicidal, free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 988 to contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Or chat with an online advisor.

SOURCE: American Psychiatric Association, press release