Improving Social Connections to Reduce Suicide Risk: A Promising Intervention Target?

Szanto and Whitman discuss the study by Van Orden and colleagues on the acceptability and efficacy of Engage Psychotherapy, a behavior therapy designed to increase social engagement. The study premise is based on the idea that lack of social connectedness is a suicide risk factor, and therefore, increases in connectedness could mitigate suicide risk. Indeed, studies have reported lower social engagement in those elderly who died by suicide or attempted suicide, smaller social networks in older suicide attempters, as well as a heightened sense of loneliness and a weakened sense of belonging in older suicide attempters and ideators. The results of the study were mixed. Although participants reported increased social engagement, insight and awareness of the importance of social connection, and acquisition of skills to manage barriers to social engagement, these changes did not translate to increased feelings of belongingness or a decreased sense of burdensomeness.