‘Courageous study’
Dr. Nestadt noted that while this study was challenging on many fronts, it took no convincing to get these grieving families to participate.
“They wanted to talk to us, especially because they were hopeful that our work could help prevent future suicides, but also they wanted to talk about their loved ones,” he said.
“When you lose someone to cancer, people give you hugs and flowers. When you lose someone to suicide, people don’t discuss it. Suicide has a stigma to it.”
Briefing moderator Howard Liu, MD, MBA, chair of the department of psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, praised the study team for a “courageous study that really required a tremendous amount of vulnerability from the research team and clearly from the survivors as well.”
Dr. Howard Liu
This is an “important and timely public health discussion,” said Dr. Liu, chair of the APA Council on Communications.
“We’re all facing this challenge of how do we reduce suicide across all ages, from youth to adults as well. This is a really vital discussion and such an important clue about access and trying to reduce access in a moment of impulsivity,” he added.
The study had no commercial funding. Dr. Nestadt and Dr. Liu report no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.