Elucidating the Polygenic Architecture Underlying Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

Genes play a role in suicide, though it is not the whole story and there are many contributors. Understanding how genes combine to explain suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and death by suicide, especially in combination with genes related to depression, risk-taking, cognitive function, and individual and family alcohol use, will help deepen our understanding of the paths to suicidal behavior and possible interventions.