Family Factors as a Risk Factor for Suicide in People in Residential Treatment for Substance Use

Introduction: various risk factors for suicide have been studied in the literature in populations undergoing addiction treatment; these studies, however, focus on suicide as a construct, either as suicidal thoughts or ideation. Therefore, it is important to analyze the risk factors for suicidal behavior and delve deeper into the familial factors that modulate this relationship, especially in populations undergoing rehabilitation for substance use. Objective: to analyze the influence of familial factors on suicide attempts in a population of inmates at an addiction treatment and rehabilitation center. Method: a retrospective case-control study was conducted with a sample of 40 people who had attempted suicide and 59 control people. Results: a 12-question questionnaire was applied through a mobile app to 99 participants. Of the participants, 79.8% were men and 20.2% were women; a high prevalence of suicide attempts was found in men. A family history of suicide is a risk factor that multiplies the likelihood of suicide up to sevenfold, while being male increases it sixfold. Education is a protective factor against suicide. Men rated their own emotional health as good, while the majority of women rated it as average. Discussion and conclusions: the population at the treatment and rehabilitation center for addictions presents a complex suicide risk profile, influenced by factors such as gender, family history of suicide, and low educational level. The importance of individual assessments and specific intervention programs to address the particular needs of each gender within this context is highlighted.