Suicide Among Women and the Role of Women's Health Care Providers

Descriptive Epidemiology of Female Suicides by Race and Ethnicity

Each year millions of females develop serious mental illnesses (SMI), which are major risk factors for suicides. Using the Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) for the years 2000, 2010 and 2020, we found in 2020 9,428 females (almost 190/week) committed suicide, losing 328,653 years off potential life before age 80 years. There were pronounced increases in female suicides from 2000 to 2020 across all racial and ethnic groups. The greatest number of suicides were in non-Hispanic white females, but the highest rate of suicides was in non-Hispanic American Indians /Alaska Natives, and in females 15-24 years of age. The West had the highest female suicide rates, with methods used to commit suicides varying by census regions and race and ethnicity. Suffocation to commit suicide increased for most racial and ethnic groups and poisonings decreased for most groups between 2000 and 2020, These underscore the need for targeted primary prevention of suicides for females based on age, geographic location and method of suicide, to mitigate female suicides improved access (e.g. geographically and financially) to mental health care services is essential.

Psychiatric Issues in Women Veterans

Women veterans have unique life experiences and mental health needs, perhaps in part related to their high rates of exposure to traumatic events including military sexual trauma, combat trauma, and intimate partner violence. We review mental health difficulties among women veterans and describe related functional impairment. Evidence-based treatments are available, but barriers to care remain, including providers' lack of awareness of the unique needs of women veterans. Efforts are needed to increase access to evidence-based interventions, remove barriers to care, and improve provider competency working with this population to maximize clinical outcomes.

Obstetrician/Gynecologists' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Regarding Suicide Screening Among Women

Background: Suicide is a public health issue, and there are differences between men and women in terms of suicide ideation, behavior, and completion. Obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are uniquely positioned to assess women's suicide risk. Methods: A 53-question survey was distributed to the Pregnancy-Related Care Research Network, assessing practice, attitudes, and knowledge regarding suicide risk assessment and management, and personal experience with suicide. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with paired samples were used to compare the frequency of screening and interventions for different groups of women, and practices of those with and without suicide experience. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Response rate was 31.9%. Respondents were largely White females. OB/GYNs reported more frequently screening for suicide ideation/intent/behavior among pregnant and postpartum patients than nonpregnant/nonpostpartum patients of childbearing age. The most common assessment tool was the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; half ask about past suicide ideation/behavior or current thoughts/plans. The most common intervention for at-risk patients was a mental health referral; all interventions were reported more frequently for pregnant patients. Common barriers to screening were inadequate mental health services, time constraints, and inadequate training. Most agreed suicide screening is within their purview, and were knowledgeable about the topic, although gaps were identified. Few reported adequate training in suicide risk assessment, and believed continuing education would be beneficial. A majority endorsed experience with suicide and some practice differences emerged. Conclusions: OB/GYNs view suicide risk assessment in their scope. Some knowledge gaps were identified, and respondents believe additional training would be beneficial.