ABSTRACT
Suicide continues to be a significant worldwide public health concern. Major efforts by theorists and researchers continue to increase our understanding of how to identify risk factors and what constitute the best evidence-based preventative measures. An important consideration in recent years is the relationship between resilience and suicide risk. With regard to this connection, a number of theories have been put forward. Some theorists see resilience as a personality feature characterized by an ability to adapt to change, cope with stress, and thrive in adverse conditions. Other researchers define resilience as a psychological construct where an individual possesses a set of positive beliefs, resources, and the perceived ability to overcome adverse situations. Deficits in how an individual tolerates internal conflict and develops adaptive coping skills have been posited to have an origin in negative life experiences that impact one’s resilience. A number of researchers see resilience and risk as existing on a continuum. Deficits in resilience amplify risk, and enhanced resilience is considered a protective factor against suicide. Researchers have proposed that specific resilience factors exist as moderators and a significant protection against suicide. Furthermore, there is often a pattern of individuals who have a history of suicide attempts—which have a tendency to lower resiliency scores. Attempters can be compared to those who have never attempted suicide—thus, highlighting the importance of measuring resilience when assessing for suicidality. This chapter will further explore the role of resilience as a moderating variable, how resilience factors are measured and defined, and how this information can be used in suicide prevention and intervention.
