--- title: "Psych News Alert: Stressors, Genes, and Mental Illnesses All Contribute to Suicidal Behavior" description: Carlos E. Santa Maria/Shutterstock Suicides increased in nine European countries after the start of the global economic crisis, a study repo... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stressed%20man_21422407-2.jpg --- 7/18/11 12:00 AM # Stressors, Genes, and Mental Illnesses All Contribute to Suicidal Behavior ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/stressors-genes-and-mental-illnesses.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/stressors-genes-and-mental-illnesses.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/stressors-genes-and-mental-illnesses.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/stressors-genes-and-mental-illnesses.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/07/stressors-genes-and-mental-illnesses.html) | | | --- | | Carlos E. Santa Maria/Shutterstock | Suicides increased in nine European countries after the start of the global economic crisis, a study reported in the July 9 *The Lancet *indicated. This researchers suggested that the crisis was a major causative factor in the suicides. But it often takes not just a stressor, such as an economic crisis, but also mental illness to trigger suicidal behavior, scientists have found. Indeed, it looks as if a large percentage of suicide attempts--60 percent--can be attributed to four mental disorders--major depression, borderline personality disorder, nicotine dependence, and postraumatic stress disorder, researchers recently reported. For more information on this study, see *Psychiatric News *at [http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/46/3/16.2.full](http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/46/3/16.2.full) . And researchers are finding more and more evidence that genes contribute to suicidal behavior as well. For more information on this topic, see *Psychiatric News *at [http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/46/10/20.2.full](http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/46/10/20.2.full) [suicide](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/suicide), [suicidal behavior](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/suicidal-behavior), [genes](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/genes) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/childrenplaying_83687596-Jun-24-2025-06-14-05-1820-PM.jpg?height=200&name=childrenplaying_83687596-Jun-24-2025-06-14-05-1820-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/alternative-therapies-should-be.html) [adolescents](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/adolescents), [children](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/children), [cognitive-behavioral therapy](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cognitive-behavioral-therapy), [Psychiatric Services in Advance](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatric-services-in-advance), [antipsychotic medication](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/antipsychotic-medication) ## [Alternative Therapies Should Be Considered Before Antipsychotics for Children, Report Says](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/01/alternative-therapies-should-be.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 1/7/16 12:00 AM Despite the vulnerability of youth to the potential side effects of antipsychotics, previous... 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