A comprehensive review published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews has explored the connection between physical activity and suicidal behaviours, particularly among individuals with mental and physical health disorders. The study, which analysed data from 141,691 participants across seven observational studies, suggests that while physical activity might lower the incidence of suicide attempts, its impact on suicidal ideation and suicide deaths is inconsistent.
A team of international researchers led the systematic review, which discovered a notable correlation between physical activity and fewer suicide attempts. Two case-control studies within the review highlighted that individuals who engaged in regular physical activity were less likely to attempt suicide. For example, one study focusing on psychiatric inpatients found that those who had not attempted suicide were more likely to have engaged in mild to strenuous physical activity compared to those who had attempted suicide. Similarly, another study reported that a lack of physical activity was associated with a higher likelihood of near-lethal suicide attempts among individuals with depression and other serious conditions.
However, the review’s findings on suicidal ideation and suicide deaths were less conclusive. Three studies examined the relationship between physical activity and suicidal ideation but did not yield consistent results. For instance, one study involving elderly Korean adults with mental health issues found no significant association between physical inactivity and the development of suicidal thoughts over a two-year period. Another study, involving active-duty soldiers with chronic pain, suggested that while frequent exercise therapy might reduce suicidal ideation, the overall effects were inconsistent.
Regarding suicide deaths, two prospective cohort studies included in the review found no significant link between physical activity and reduced mortality by suicide. In one study focusing on men with obesity, higher levels of physical activity did not significantly decrease the risk of suicide death. A similar lack of association was observed in a Japanese study that examined walking duration among men with chronic pain and its impact on suicide mortality.
The findings underscore the complex relationship between physical activity and suicidal behaviour. While physical activity appears to have a protective effect against suicide attempts, particularly through its role in reducing impulsivity, the evidence does not support a clear link to preventing suicidal ideation or death by suicide. The researchers suggest that the ideation-to-action framework might explain these results, indicating that different factors may influence the progression from suicidal thoughts to attempts.
