Tag: suicide risk

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Addiction is Linked to an Increased Risk of Suicide

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

People with substance use disorder are at a significantly higher risk of both attempted suicide and death by suicide. This is shown by a study from the Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. The study also shows that the risk of suicidal behaviour is elevated among relatives of people with substance use disorder, particularly among close relatives.

In the study, the researchers analysed data from Swedish national registers covering just over 4.2 million people born in Sweden between 1958 and 1999. The participants were followed from 1973 to 2020. The researchers investigated the link between substance use disorders – that is, problematic use of alcohol or drugs – and suicidal behaviour, defined as suicide attempts or death by suicide.

Of the approximately 258 000 people who had been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, 23 per cent had at some point attempted suicide or died by suicide. The corresponding proportion among people without such a diagnosis was 1.5 per cent. The highest prevalence was seen among people with both alcohol and drug dependence, where 44 per cent had experienced a suicidal event.

After the researchers had taken into account factors such as gender, year of birth, socio-economic circumstances and other psychiatric diagnoses, a clearly elevated risk remained. People with substance use disorder had more than six times the risk of suicidal behaviour compared with those without the diagnosis. The risk was highest for those with both alcohol and drug dependence.

Relatives at risk

The researchers also investigated whether the risk runs in families. The analysis showed that people whose relatives had substance use disorders were more likely to have experienced a suicidal event themselves. The association was stronger between close relatives than between more distant relatives, suggesting that genetic factors may play a role. Shared environmental factors within the family may also be significant.

“Our findings suggest that a family history of substance use disorder is not only a risk factor for one’s own addiction problems but may also be a marker of an increased risk of suicidal behaviour,” says lead author Lotfi Khemiri, a specialist in psychiatry and researcher at Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet.

The researchers emphasise that the findings may be important for clinical practice. According to the study, healthcare professionals should be aware of the increased risk of suicide among people with substance use disorders, particularly those who also have alcohol and drug dependence or other psychiatric diagnoses.

“The study also highlights the need for further research into interventions that can prevent suicide among people with substance use disorders. Just as with other psychiatric conditions, it is important that staff who come into contact with people with substance use disorders are aware of the increased risk of suicide and know how to assess it,” says Lotfi Khemiri.

The researchers emphasise that the study is based on diagnoses recorded within specialist healthcare and therefore primarily reflects the more severe forms of substance use disorders. As the study is based on Swedish register data, it is also unclear to what extent the results can be generalised to other countries. 

See the study for details of funding and any conflicts of interest. 

Source: Karolinska Instutet

Categories : Mental HealthTags :

“People Are Crying Out for Help,” Says SADAG, with 460 Suicide Attempts a Day in SA

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Alex Green on Pexels

Every day in South Africa, an estimated 23 people die by suicide, while another 460 attempt suicide.

The impact is particularly concerning among younger people. Globally, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest estimates.[1] The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) is also seeing the extent of the need first-hand as its helplines currently receive between 2 500 and 3 000 calls a day, with around one in four serious suicide-related calls.[2]

“People are crying out for help, and the calls we receive every day show us just how many people are struggling,” says SADAG’s Operations Director Cassey Chambers. “For us to make a meaningful difference and prevent suicides, we can’t just intervene at the point of crisis. People need help recognising the warning signs to make it easier to talk openly about suicide and know where they can turn for help. We need families, friends, schools, workplaces and communities to understand that talking about suicide is crucial and that asking someone directly if they are struggling can open the door to getting them the support they need.”

Every conversation counts

This World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September), Cipla is partnering with SADAG to encourage more of these conversations before someone reaches crisis point. The initiative supports SADAG’s 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day campaign, Every Conversation Counts, which provides South Africans with practical resources to help them understand what to say, how to respond and where to find support.[3]

As part of the campaign, Cipla is introducing the Postcard Wall of Hope, an interactive activation where members of the public can write and share messages of encouragement and support for people they may never meet.

“Sometimes, a few words can mean more than we realise. The Postcard Wall* of Hope is about sharing those words while they can still reach someone, reminding them that their life matters and that it is okay to speak about how they are feeling,” says Paul Miller, CEO of Cipla Africa.

Members of the public can read a postcard, take one that speaks to them or write a message for somebody else to find.

“You don’t have to know who will eventually read your postcard or what they may be going through,” says Miller. “It could simply remind someone that they matter or encourage them to keep going and reach out. The Wall is a way of showing that our words don’t only have to come when it is too late. We can use them now to start conversations and remind people that support is available.”

When to start the conversation

SADAG advises people to take changes in a loved one’s behaviour seriously. Warning signs can include talking about death or suicide, withdrawing from loved ones, risky or self-harming behaviour, giving away personal belongings or a sudden change in mood after a period of depression.[4]

“Importantly, asking somebody directly about suicide does not increase their likelihood of attempting it. SADAG encourages people to ask directly if they are thinking about suicide, listen without judgement and encourage them to seek professional help,” adds Cassey Chambers.

Starting a conversation doesn’t mean you need to know exactly what to say or have all the answers. It can begin with noticing that somebody isn’t themselves and asking how they are really doing. “What matters is that we don’t allow our fear of saying the wrong thing to stop us from saying anything at all,” concludes Miller.

Help is available

Anyone experiencing emotional distress, or concerned about someone they know, can contact SADAG for free telephonic counselling and support:

  • Cipla Mental Health Helpline: 0800 456 789 – free, 24-hour counselling
  • Cipla Mental Health WhatsApp: 076 882 2775 – daily, 08:00–17:00
  • For more mental health and suicide-prevention resources, visit the SADAG website: https://www.sadag.org

*The Postcard wall will be launched during Mental Health month in October as malls in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

References

[1] World Health Organization (2025), *Suicide worldwide in 2021: Global health estimates*. WHO reports suicide as the third-leading cause of death globally among people aged 15–29.

[2]South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), World Suicide Prevention Day 2026 media information.

[3] South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), *Every Conversation Counts: World Suicide Prevention Day 2026*.

[4] South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), *Understanding Suicide*, suicide warning signs and guidance on supporting somebody who may be suicidal.

Categories : Dermatology Mental HealthTags :

A Hidden Risk Behind a Common Hair Loss Drug

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Brett Sayles on Unsplash

For over two decades, finasteride – a prescription drug taken by millions of men to treat hair loss – has carried troubling signals of deeper harm: depression, anxiety, and in some cases, suicide.

A new review by Prof Mayer Brezis of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem argues that the medical and regulatory community failed the public by repeatedly overlooking evidence of finasteride’s potentially psychiatric effects.

The review, published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, compiles data from eight major studies conducted between 2017 and 2023, showing a consistent pattern: users of finasteride were significantly more likely to experience mood disorders and suicidal thoughts than those not taking the drug. Findings come from multiple countries and data systems, including the US FDA, as well as national health records in Sweden, Canada, and Israel.

“The evidence is no longer anecdotal,” said Prof. Brezis, professor emeritus of medicine and public health. “We now see consistent patterns across diverse populations. And the consequences may have been tragic.”

According to the paper, hundreds of thousands of people may have suffered from depression related to finasteride, and hundreds – possibly more – may have died by suicide. 

A Delayed Response, With a High Cost

While the FDA acknowledged depression as a potential side effect in 2011 and added suicidality in 2022, concerns had already been raised as early as 2002. Internal FDA documents from 2010, cited in Prof Brezis’ paper, reveal large portions blacked out as “confidential” – including estimates of how many users could have been affected.

By 2011, the FDA had recorded just 18 suicides linked to finasteride. Based on global usage, he argues, the number should have been ranged in the thousands. “It wasn’t just underreporting,” he wrote. “It was a systemic failure of pharmacovigilance.”

Unlike weight-loss or psychiatric medications, which receive intense post-marketing scrutiny, finasteride’s “cosmetic” status may have shielded it from investigation. Notably, none of the studies cited in Brezis’ review were initiated by Merck, the original manufacturer, or requested by regulators.

A Cosmetic Drug With Life-Altering Risks

Finasteride works by blocking the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In the process, it may also disrupt neurosteroids like allopregnanolone, which are linked to mood regulation in the brain. Animal studies show long-term effects on neuroinflammation and even structural changes in the hippocampus.

For some patients, the harm does not end when the drug is stopped. Reports of “post-finasteride syndrome” describe lingering symptoms – insomnia, panic attacks, cognitive dysfunction, and suicidal thoughts – that persist months or years after discontinuation.

Regulatory Gaps and Corporate Silence

The report is particularly critical of the FDA and Merck. Despite having access to millions of patient records, neither acted in time. Brezis suggests that industry silence was strategic, motivated by market pressures and legal liability -echoing past controversies like Merck’s handling of Vioxx.

“Nothing is more important to Organon than the safety of our medicines,” the company recently stated. Yet none of the safety studies cited were initiated by the manufacturer.

The FDA, meanwhile, took five years to respond to a citizen petition calling for a black-box warning. Its final decision was to add suicidal ideation to the label – but not as a formal warning.

What Now?

Brezis is calling for immediate changes in how drugs like finasteride are approved, monitored, and prescribed. His recommendations include:

  • Suspending marketing of the drug for cosmetic purposes until safety is re-established.
  • Rquiring mandatory post-approval studies with strict enforcement.
  • Systematically recording drug histories in suicide investigations.

For many patients, those reforms will come too late.

The paper, “Failing Public Health Again? Analytical Review of Depression and Suicidality from Finasteride” was published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry and is available here. 

Source: Hebrew University of Jerusalem