Male suicide attempters in Mexico were more likely to use cannabis and alcohol, while females had more stress-related diagnoses
Among 140 Mexican suicide attempters, males were significantly more likely to use cannabis and alcohol and receive substance-related diagnoses, while females had more stress-related psychiatric diagnoses.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Males significantly more likely to use cannabis (p<0.001) among suicide attempters
- Evidence Grade:
- Small cross-sectional study from a single hospital in Mexico. Descriptive findings with limited generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2015 using 2010-2012 data from Tabasco, Mexico.
- Original Title:
- Gender differences in socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and psychiatric diagnosis in/of suicide attempters in a Mexican population.
- Published In:
- Acta neuropsychiatrica, 27(3), 182-8 (2015)
- Authors:
- Fresán, Ana(2), González-Castro, Thelma Beatriz(2), Peralta-Jiménez, Yesenia, Juárez-Rojop, Isela, Pool-García, Sherezada, Velázquez-Sánchez, Martha Patricia, López-Narváez, Lilia, Tovilla-Zárate, Carlos Alfonso
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00961
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis use linked to suicide attempts?
In this study, male suicide attempters were significantly more likely to use cannabis than females. However, this cross-sectional design cannot determine whether cannabis use contributed to the suicide attempt or was part of a broader pattern of substance use and mental health problems.
Do men and women attempt suicide for different reasons?
This study found different patterns: males were more often diagnosed with substance-related disorders while females had stress-related diagnoses, suggesting different risk pathways that require different prevention approaches.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00961APA
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
MLA
Fresán, Ana, et al. "Gender differences in socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and psychiatric diagnosis in/of suicide attempters in a Mexican population.." Acta neuropsychiatrica, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1017/neu.2015.6
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Gender differences in socio-demographic, clinical characteri..." RTHC-00961. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/fresan-2015-gender-differences-in-sociodemographic
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.