Psychological research

Bereaved by suicide: psychological mechanism

To lose a next of kin to suicide can be an extremely distressing event. Studies show that bereaved by suicide have an elevated risk of stress-related diseases and suicidal behaviour themselves. The aim of this study is to examine the psychological mechanisms that affect the risk of suicidal behaviour among bereaved by suicide. These insights are needed in order to optimise the support for bereaved by suicide.
The project has received support from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

DRISP: Annette Erlangsen

Partner:

Dr Alexandra Pitman, Senior Clinical Lecturer, UCL Division of Psychiatry (projektansvarlig)
Dr Gemma Lewis, Research Associate in Psychiatric Epidemiology, UCL Division of Psychiatry
Professor Julie Cerel, Professor, College of Social Work, University of Kentucky

Psycho-social speech therapy in the Danish Suicide Prevetion Clincs

Although deliberate self-harm is a strong predictor of suicide, evidence for effective interventions is missing. The aim of this study was to examine whether psychosocial therapy after self-harm was linked to lower risks of repeated self-harm, suicide, and general mortality.
Our findings show a lower risk of repeated deliberate self-harm and general mortality in recipients of psychosocial therapy after short-term and long-term follow-up, and a protective effect for suicide after long-term follow-up, which favour the use of psychosocial therapy interventions after deliberate self-harm.
The project was supported by Danish Health Insurance Foundation; the Research Council of Psychiatry, Region of Southern Denmark; the Research Council of Psychiatry, Capital Region of Denmark; and the Strategic Research Grant from Health Sciences, Capital Region of Denmark.

The project in the media

Information
TV2
Politiken
Kristeligt Dagblad
Jyllandsposten
DR

Abroad
New York Times
BBC
The Washington Post
Bloomberg News

The study was published in Psychological Medicine and Lancet Psychiatry.

DRISP: Annette Erlangsen & Merete Nordentoft

Partners:

Elizabeth A Stuart, Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
Ping Qin, National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
Elsebeth Stenager, Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Region of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Leaders of the Danish Suicide Prevention Clinics

Workplace bullying and suicidal behaviour

Although workplace bullying is considered a stressful life-event, there is scarce evidence about its’ role as a risk factor for suicide attempt and death by suicide. The aim of this project is to examine whether people who report to have been exposed to workplace bullying have higher rates of suicidal behaviour than those not exposed.

The project has received support from the Psychiatric Research Foundation, Region Southern Denmark

DRISP: Annette Erlangsen

Partners:

Paul Maurice Conway, Institut for Psykologi, Københavns Universitet
Thomas Clausen, Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø, København
Annie Høgh, Institut for Psykologi, Københavns Universitet
Elsebeth Stenager, Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern