Suicidal Attempts and Stressful Life Events Among Women in a Homeless Situation in Madrid (Spain)

The objective of this article is to analyze therelationship between suffering from stressful life events (SLE) and subsequent suicidal behavior among women in a homeless situation, examining the differences in the number and characteristics of SI E experienced by attempters and nonattempters. The study was carried out based on the data obtained from a sample of women living homeless in Madrid (Spain; n = 138). The information was gathered using a structured interview. The results show that 46% of these women living homeless in Madrid had attempted suicide, and 32% of them had done so for the first time when they were homeless. We observed a high level of SLE among the women in a homeless situation, with a substantial increase in the number and severity of the stressors suffered by the interviewees who had attempted suicide, both during their childhood and adolescence and in their later lives. Public Policy Relevance Statement This study reveals that suicide attempts among women living homeless in Madrid reaches alarming dimensions. Data obtained can be useful for policymakers' design programs for the prevention of suicide in this group. It would be important for designing protocols for the early assessment of suicidal behavior for their implementation in both assistance services and by street outreach teams.