Concussion history increases suicide risk in young athletes

Takeaway

• Having a history of sports-related concussions significantly increased the risk of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide attempts requiring medical treatment among high school athletes, especially among males.

Why this matters

• Suicide prevention programmes should include concussions as a risk factor, especially among male student athletes.

Study design

• Data from the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance Survey (n=13,353; youth with a previous sports-related concussion) were assessed.
• Funding: None.

Key results

• In the past 12 months, 15.0% youth had reported sports-related concussion.
• Youth with a history of concussion had significantly greater odds for:
  • feeling sad/hopeless (aOR, 1.20; P<.05);
  • suicidal ideation (aOR, 1.25; P<.05);
  • past suicide attempt (aOR, 1.60; P<.001);
  • suicide attempt treated by a doctor/nurse (aOR, 2.35; P<.001).
• Outcome differences were assessed by a subsample analysis for:
  • males
    • past suicide attempt (aOR, 2.04; P<.05);
    • suicide attempt treated by a doctor/nurse (aOR, 3.27; P<.001).
  • females
    • feeling sad/hopeless (aOR, 1.26; P<.01);
    • suicidal ideation (aOR, 1.37; P<.05);
    • planned attempt (aOR, 1.39; P<.05);
    • past suicide attempt (aOR, 1.40; P<.05);
    • suicide attempt treated by a doctor/nurse (aOR, 1.97; P<.01).

Limitations

• Self-reports used.

Coauthored with Chitra Ravi, MPharm