Male suicide attempters in Mexico were more likely to use cannabis and alcohol, while females had more stress-related diagnoses

What the researchers found

Researchers documented 140 suicide attempts at a Mexican hospital over two years. Women comprised 63.6% and men 36.4% of attempters. Significant gender differences emerged in risk profiles.

Male attempters were significantly more likely to use cannabis, alcohol, and tobacco. They were predominantly diagnosed with substance-related disorders. Female attempters were more likely to be married and working as homemakers, and were predominantly diagnosed with stress-related disorders.

The findings suggest that suicide prevention strategies need to be gender-specific: focusing on substance use (including cannabis) for males and on stress-related contexts for females in this population.

Why it matters

Understanding gender-specific patterns in suicide attempts helps tailor prevention strategies. The strong association between cannabis and alcohol use in male attempters suggests substance use interventions could be an important suicide prevention tool for men.

The numbers in context

140 suicide attempts. 63.6% female, 36.4% male. Males more likely to use cannabis (p<0.001), alcohol (p<0.001), and tobacco. Males: substance-related diagnoses. Females: stress-related diagnoses.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study of 140 suicide attempts documented at the General Hospital of Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico, between September 2010 and September 2012. DSM-IV diagnoses were established. The Suicide Intent Scale was applied. Gender comparisons used chi-square tests.

What this study cannot tell us

Single hospital in one Mexican state. Small sample size (140). Cross-sectional design cannot determine causal direction. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria may not capture cultural nuances. Cannabis use rates in this population may differ from other countries.

How to read the evidence

Small cross-sectional study from a single hospital in Mexico. Descriptive findings with limited generalizability.

When this study was published

Published in 2015 using 2010-2012 data from Tabasco, Mexico.

The bigger picture

The intersection of substance use and suicidality differs by gender across cultures. This Mexican study adds to the evidence that substance use disorders, including cannabis, are more prominent in the psychiatric profiles of male suicide attempters.

Questions still open

• Would addressing cannabis and alcohol use reduce male suicide attempts in this population? Are these gender patterns consistent across Mexican populations? Do substance-related suicide attempts have different lethality patterns?

Common questions

Read the original research

Gender differences in socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and psychiatric diagnosis in/of suicide attempters in a Mexican population.

Acta neuropsychiatrica, 27(3), 182-8

Citation

Fresán, Ana; González-Castro, Thelma Beatriz; Peralta-Jiménez, Yesenia; Juárez-Rojop, Isela; Pool-García, Sherezada; Velázquez-Sánchez, Martha Patricia; López-Narváez, Lilia; Tovilla-Zárate, Carlos Alfonso. (2015). Gender differences in socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and psychiatric diagnosis in/of suicide attempters in a Mexican population.. Acta neuropsychiatrica, 27(3), 182-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/neu.2015.6

Explore the wider topic

• LGBTQ+ and Cannabis: Higher Use Rates and Recovery
• Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: What It Is, Who's at Risk, and What to Do
• BetterHelp, Cerebral, and Online Therapy: Honest Review
• Quitting Weed with ADHD: Why It Is Harder and What Actually Helps
• Quitting Weed with Depression: What You Need to Know
• Quitting Weed with PTSD: A Practical Guide
• Self-Medicating with Weed: Why It Works Until It Doesn't
• Weed and OCD: Self-Medicating Intrusive Thoughts
• Weed and PTSD: What the Research Actually Shows
• Weed and Childhood Trauma: ACEs, Self-Medication, and the Path to Real Healing
• Weed and Suicidal Thoughts: What You Need to Know