Alcohol Consumption and Suicidal Behavior: Current Research Evidence and Potential for Prevention

Abstract

Suicide is an ongoing public health issue globally. An individual’s risk of suicide is made up of a complex interaction between risk factors that can occur at an ecological (population), distal, or proximal level: “the biopsychosocial model.” The World Health Organization identifies alcohol use (including both acute intoxication and chronic use) as a modifiable risk factor for suicide. Globally, it has been estimated that almost one in five suicide deaths is attributable to alcohol use and alcohol can influence suicide risk at all three levels within the biopsychosocial model. This chapter describes the relationship between alcohol use and suicide and outlines potential mechanisms underpinning this relationship. Furthermore, policy and clinical interventions targeted at alcohol use at both the ecological and individual level are presented and discussed, ultimately aimed at preventing suicide.