Reasons for living among female African American suicide attempters and non-attempters: a case controlled sample study

Suicide within the African American community is paradoxical; despite the overrepresentation of potentially suicidogenic factors (i.e., discrimination), a relatively low number of suicide deaths are reported. Research has indicated that reasons for living may account for variability in suicidality among African American women (e.g., Richardson-Vejlgaard et al., 2009). The present study examined the relationship between suicidality and self-reported reasons for living among African American women. Female African American suicide attempters (n = 77) and non-attempters (n = 73) completed measures of depressive symptomatology, spiritual well-being, reasons for living, and suicide intent and lethality. The results suggest that suicide attempters report more reasons for living than non-attempters. Among suicide attempters, high suicide intent and lethality were associated with more reasons for living. Results are discussed in terms of the potential benefit of incorporating reasons for living in suicide treatment and prevention programs.