Does genetics play a role in suicide risk?

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Ivanhoe Newswire) – More than 49,000 people will die by suicide this year. In 2023, the number of people dying by suicide was at a record high, and officials don’t believe 2024 numbers will be any better. The reasons why people decide to commit suicide are widespread, including trauma, stress, loneliness and even genetics. Researchers are trying to identify people most at risk before something terrible happens.

The memory of her uncle puts a smile on Alexis Callor’s face, even as she is still healing from losing him to suicide a decade ago.

Alexis says, “It’s like you don’t expect it to happen. It was a big surprise and it was so shocking.”

Even more shocking, a few years later she lost her second cousin to suicide, and then her aunt took her own life. Alexis’ mother Katy began to wonder if genetics were to blame.

“It makes me extremely scared for my children,” says Katy.

Psychiatrist Hillary Coon of the University of Utah is involved in an international study that has identified twelve DNA variations linked to suicide attempts. By examining more than 1.3 million cases, researchers have discovered a link between mental and physical health factors, including impulsivity, smoking, chronic pain, ADHD, lung disease and heart disease.

“Some of them actually fall under gene pathways that have to do with how the brain works, with how synapses fire and how neurons develop,” Coon explains.

Professor Coon emphasizes that no gene causes suicide. Rather, it is the cumulative effect of many different genes.

And by knowing whether genes play a role, researchers hope treatment can begin before tragedy strikes…

Katy says: “It’s absolutely terrifying to think every day that this is something that could possibly happen.”

“I was also constantly struggling with my own mental health. And the only thing that kept me going was the fact that I know what it felt like on the other side. So it’s like, I have to keep going for my family,” Alexis explained.

As more studies focus on genetics are conducted, the US aims to reduce suicide by 20 percent in the coming years by focusing on local programs that help people at risk and limit access to things that can be used to to harm themselves, such as firearms. If you need help, please contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988.

Contributors to this news story include: Marsha Lewis, producer; Roque Correa, editor; Matt Goldschmidt, videographer.