The Psychological Effects of Childhood Trauma on Suicidal Behaviour

Abstract

Traumatic experiences during childhood are among the most consistently reported long-term predictors of mental health problems and suicidal behaviour. This review examines the relationship between adverse childhood experiences—particularly physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as neglect—and suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and self-harm behaviour, within the framework of the neurobiological, emotional, cognitive and interpersonal mechanisms mediating this relationship. Recent meta-analyses and large-scale epidemiological studies indicate that different types of abuse increase the likelihood of suicide attempts in adulthood by approximately two to five times, and that the risk rises in a dose-dependent manner with cumulative exposure. The findings suggest that dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, an imbalance between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, difficulties with emotion regulation, schemas of hopelessness and insecure attachment patterns form interacting pathways linking trauma to suicidal behaviour. Among protective factors, a safe family environment, supportive school and community resources, and cognitive resilience stand out. From a clinical perspective, there is evidence that trauma-focused psychotherapies and approaches targeting emotion regulation, such as dialectical behaviour therapy, reduce self-harm. In this context, early diagnosis, trauma-informed care and multi-component prevention programmes appear to be crucial in reducing risk.