Suicidology Meeting Genetics: What About Suicidologists?

Suicidal ideation and behavior are not considered disorders like depression. However, they do represent one of the biggest public health concerns in the contemporary world. Like many other complex traits, suicidal behavior seems to cluster in families. Moreover, first-degree relatives of individuals who have committed suicide (including dizygotic twins) are more than twice as likely to die by suicide compared with the general population. It is therefore very likely that evidence in the future will show, replicate, and confirm some genetic risk factors for suicidal behavior. If genetic approaches become an important part of health care of those at a high suicide risk, then important ethical standards will have to be met. Moreover, the bridge between suicide genetics on the one hand and consumer protection and health improvements on the other will have to be built. Who else but suicidologists are the right experts to start thinking about and arguing whether or not genetics is a potential global public tool for improving the health of those at higher risk for suicidal behavior? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)