Familiar history of suicidal behavior

Abstract

Suicide is such a serious public health problem that it has been proposed as an indicator of mental health of a society. Self-harm, a behavior related with suicide, is also a public health problem with a prevalence 8 to 15 times higher than suicide. Suicide behavior is the result of different social, cultural, biological and psychopathological factors and affects all the cultures. This clinical case of 4 brothers from a family of 8 siblings seen repeatedly due to suicide attempts make it possible to discuss these factors. The family and social report describes a low economical and cultural level. The family climate is marked by aggressive environment and inappropriate care of the children. Different members of the siblings initiated drug consumption as a teenager. It is interesting to point out the high frequency of suicide attempts in this family and the health resources used as well as the deterioration in the quality of life associated. The elevated weight of the fa m i ly fa c t o rs in the development of the suicide behavior is observed and offers the opportunity of questioning if whether it is the environmental factors, genetic vulnerability to mental disorder or specific predisposition to suicidal behavior that is transmitted in the family.