Racial Differences in Hopelessness as a Risk Factor for a Nearly Lethal Suicide Attempt

Abstract

Hopelessness is associated with suicide. Hopelessness has been associated with life experiences, social-environmental, and biological factors. Racial differences exist in these factors and in coping behaviors. Better understanding racial differences in hopelessness and suicide may result in more effective interventions to slow the increasing Black American suicide rate. Data from a case-control study of nearly lethal suicide attempters were analyzed. Interaction results from logistic regression suggest that the effect of hopelessness on a nearly lethal suicide attempt may differ for Black and White Americans. Hopelessness was strongly associated with a nearly lethal suicide attempt for Blacks and Whites, but the odds were greater for Blacks than Whites. Interventions may need to be adjusted to address the difference.