Abstract

Background

Psychological distress, an umbrella term encompassing emotional anguish and cognitive-behavioral symptoms of anxiety and depression, is closely linked to suicidal ideation. However, the mechanism of this relationship is unclear, dampening the utility of distress screening in suicide prevention.

Purpose

This study aimed to identify potential mediators of this relationship, and whether effects are sex-specific.

Method and participants

A sample of online help-seekers who had just completed the K10 psychological distress checklist on the Beyond Blue website [N = 1,528] consented to complete measures of help-seeking intentions, financial wellbeing, alcohol use, social connection (belongingness), sense of being a burden on others (burdensomeness); and suicidal ideation. Moderated mediation analysis examined the indirect effects of psychological distress on suicidal ideation through these risk factors, and whether effects were moderated by sex.

Results

The model accounted for 44% of the variance in suicidal ideation. The majority of participants had experienced very high psychological distress (77.3%) and at least some suicidal ideation (74.7%) in the past four weeks. A significant indirect effect of burdensomeness was found for both men and women. No other risk factors produced significant indirect effects.

Conclusions

Perceived burdensomeness appears to be central in determining how psychological distress might progress to suicidal thinking. The experience of distress may lead a person to believe that loved ones would be better off without them, prompting suicidal thinking.

• Highlights

• Psychological distress screening is an early intervention opportunity for suicide.

• Intervention plans could be improved by including perceived burdensome measures.

• Online screening for distress is a potential bridge to offline-help seeking.

中文翻译：

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澳大利亚在线求助者的心理困扰与自杀意念：负担感的中介作用

摘要

背景

心理困扰是一个涵盖情绪痛苦和焦虑和抑郁的认知行为症状的总称，与自杀意念密切相关。然而，这种关系的机制尚不清楚，抑制了痛苦筛查在自杀预防中的效用。

目的

本研究旨在确定这种关系的潜在调解者，以及影响是否具有性别特异性。

方法和参与者

刚刚在 Beyond Blue 网站 [ N = 1,528]完成 K10 心理困扰清单的在线求助者样本 同意完成求助意向、财务状况、饮酒、社会联系（归属感）、归属感等方面的测量成为他人的负担（burdensomeness）；和自杀意念。调节中介分析通过这些风险因素检查了心理困扰对自杀意念的间接影响，以及影响是否受到性别的调节。

结果

该模型解释了自杀意念方差的 44%。大多数参与者在过去 4 周内经历过非常严重的心理困扰 (77.3%) 和至少有一些自杀意念 (74.7%)。对男性和女性都发现了负担的显着间接影响。没有其他风险因素产生显着的间接影响。

结论

感知到的负担似乎是决定心理困扰如何发展为自杀念头的核心。痛苦的经历可能会让一个人相信，没有他们，所爱的人会过得更好，从而引发自杀念头。

• 强调

• 心理困扰筛查是自杀的早期干预机会。

• 干预计划可以通过包括被认为是繁重的措施来改进。

• 在线筛查遇险是通往离线寻求帮助的潜在桥梁。