Psychosocial Burden and Suicidality in Epilepsy: A Public Health Concern

The increased risk for psychosocial burden and suicidality in people with epilepsy compared to the general population is a well-established global public health concern. Suicidality risk is also increased in patients with functional seizures. The timely identification of patients at highest risk for psychosocial burden and self-harm is vital. This can pose a significant challenge for multidisciplinary clinicians caring for people with epilepsy. Early identification of social stressors and comorbid psychiatric contributors via screening are required to assist with the development of predictive models for self-harm in epilepsy; and subsequent options for treatment and the provision of adjunct supports in the community may help lead to evidence-based suicide prevention strategies for people with epilepsy. Too often, pervasive and common social stressors leading to self-harm go unrecognized and undertreated. Elevating clinician awareness of patient subpopulations at highest risk for suicide, and informing on the advent of evidence-based self-management programs targeting depression and self-harm presents an opportunity to increase suicide prevention in epilepsy.