Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

Research Summary

Suicide

The Centers for Disease Control reported in 2016 that suicide rates rose significantly from 2009 to 2014 and that the rise in suicide rates accelerated beginning in 2006. In 2014, 42,773 people in the United States died by suicide, making it the 10th leading cause of death in the nation and the 2nd leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds. More than 100 Americans die by suicide every day, and more than 1 million US residents are estimated to attempt suicide annually. Suicide is a significant contributor to the early mortality of individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, whose life expectancy in the United States is approximately 25 years shorter on average than the general publics.

schizophrenia-bipolar-and-suicide.pdf Download

TAC

Related Reports & Publication

Serious Mental Illness and Homelessness

People with serious mental illness (SMI) are more likely than the general population to experience homelessness and be victimized by others, become involved with the criminal legal system, experience health […]

The Overrepresentation of Black Americans in AOT

In the United States, Black people with SMI have been found to be more likely to receive coercive mental health treatments including involuntary hospitalizations, the use of physical restraints, the […]

Victimization and Serious Mental Illness

People diagnosed with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia are more likely than the general population to be victims of crime. Victimization of people with SMI often takes the form of […]

Duration of Untreated Psychosis

The average duration of untreated psychosis is 74 weeks in the U.S. This long period of untreated psychosis has many negative effects, including the following: Treatment response worsens Insight is […]

Anosognosia

When someone with severe mental illness refuses to accept treatment and insists that there is nothing wrong with them, it can be frustrating to caregivers and treatment providers who just […]

Assisted Outpatient Treatment: Improving Outcomes and Saving Money

Assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) is a tool in the toolbox for civil courts and mental health systems to work collaboratively to help individuals with serious mental illness caught in a […]

Serious Mental Illness Prevalence in Jails and Prisons

Serious mental illness has become so prevalent in the US corrections system that jails and prisons are now commonly called “the new asylums.” In point of fact, the Los Angeles […]

Psychiatric Bed Supply Need Per Capita

The United States is in the midst of a psychiatric bed shortage that worsens every year. By early 2016, the practice of closing state mental hospitals, often called “deinstitutionalization,” had […]

Risk Factors for Violence in Serious Mental Illness

Most individuals with serious mental illness are not dangerous. Most acts of violence are committed by individuals who are not mentally ill. Individuals with serious mental illness are victimized by […]