Early-life risk factors for suicidal behavior: a life-course perspective

Massimiliano Orri, PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Psychiatry | McGill University

WHERE: Hybrid | 2001 McGill College, Rm 1140 | Zoom

Note: Massimiliano Orri will be presenting in-person

Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of death, and its prevention is a global imperative. Understanding risk factors for suicide and suicidal behaviour is essential to inform prevention. Most previous research has investigated the role of proximal (or precipitating) risk factors, such as economic breakdown, relational problems, and psychopathology. However, beyond the documented influence of such proximal risk factors, a growing body of research suggests that distal factors occurring during the perinatal and early childhood periods may also increase vulnerability to suicide over the lifespan, consistent with the Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases hypothesis. This talk will present some results of an ongoing research program that aims at clarifying the role of early-life risk factors on later suicide risk using longitudinal studies and genetically informed approaches.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, attendees will:

• Understanding suicide from the life-course perspective;
• Learning about the contribution of perinatal risk factors to suicide-related outcomes;
• Discussing the evidence supporting causality in this association.

Speaker Bio

Massimiliano Orri is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, and an Associate Member of the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health at McGill University. His research builds on several disciplines including psychiatric epidemiology, developmental psychopathology, and behavioral genetics to understand the risk factors of suicide across the lifespan. He also works as a clinical psychologist at the Depressive and Suicide Disorders Program of the Douglas Institute.