People With Disabilities at Elevated Risk of Suicidal Behavior, Study Suggests

Published:
September 15, 2021

People with disabilities appear to be significantly more likely to think about, plan, and/or attempt suicide than people without disabilities, according to a report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Individuals with multiple disabilities were found to be at a particularly heightened risk of suicidal behavior. The researchers categorized the respondents into seven groups based on their reported functional disability type. People with any disability were found to be more than twice as likely to report suicidal ideation, suicide planning without attempt, and suicide attempt compared with people without disabilities. Among disability categories, individuals with a cognitive limitation or complex activity limitation had the highest rates of suicidal behaviors. Additional analysis revealed that those with ≥5 limitations were nearly four times as likely to report suicidal ideation, more than six times as likely to report suicide planning without attempt, and more than eight times as likely to report a suicide attempt compared with people without a disability.

Man sitting in a wheelchair and woman standing by a window
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