Factors associated with quality of life after attempted suicide: a cross‐sectional study

Aims and objectives To describe factors associated with the subjective quality of life of individuals who had attempted suicide. Background Although quality of life has been a focus of concern in mental health care, data are lacking on what life is like and what factors are related to an individual's quality of life after a suicide attempt. Design A cross‐sectional, descriptive design was used. Methods Participants comprised a convenience sample of 103 individuals who had attempted suicide within the previous three months and received follow‐up care from one suicide‐prevention centre in northern Taiwan. Participants were assessed for depression and quality of life using the Beck Depression Inventory, Taiwan version and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Instrument‐BREF, Taiwan version, respectively. Results Almost half the participants (n = 49) had severe depression and one‐third of them (n = 30) reattempted suicide while receiving follow‐up care. Depression and quality‐of‐life scores were statistically significantly inversely correlated. participants' quality‐of‐life scores were most associated with their depressive level, reattempting suicide during suicidal follow‐up care, high educational level and older age. Conclusions The present study indicates that factors associated with quality of life decreased more in individuals with moderate/severe depression than in those with mild depression. In addition, individuals who reattempted suicide during follow‐up care were more likely to suffer from poor life quality. Relevance to clinical practice Mental health professionals should include frequent evaluation of depressive status and quality of life in follow‐up care for patients who have recently attempted suicide. Particularly, mental health professionals must treat suicidal individuals with a high tendency to reattempt suicide by establishing trust with them and allowing them to narrate their painful experiences during follow‐up care.