Resilience and correlates among suicide attempters without psychiatric comorbidities: an exploratory study

Abstract Background Suicide is a complex problem driven by a heterogeneous array of risk factors. Although resilience is traditionally conceptualized as a protective buffer, empirical evidence regarding its efficacy in mitigating suicidal crises remains equivocal. Aim We studied the association of suicidal behavior and its different risk factors with resilience in subjects with no co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Methods and setting This is a hospital-based, cross-sectional, exploratory study. We recruited consenting patients of any gender, in the age group of 18–60 years, within two weeks of their suicide attempt without pre-existing psychiatric comorbidity. After collecting socio-demographic and clinical details, we assessed them on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), The Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale- 21 items (DASS-21), and Colombia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Results We recruited 52 participants with a recent suicide attempt who met the eligibility criteria. Overall, the majority of the sample demonstrated normal-to-high resilience, moderate perceived stress, and a positive screening for personality pathology. Low resilience was significantly associated with likely personality pathology, acute depressed and anxious emotional states, and current death wishes. Paradoxically, a lifetime history of non-suicidal self-injury was associated with high resilience. Core suicidality factors, including the lethality of the attempt, intentionality, and controllability of ideation—were not significantly associated with resilience. Conclusion The relationship between resilience and suicidal behavior is highly complex and context-dependent, necessitating nuanced models that move beyond reductionistic individual traits.