“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill
Unsurprisingly, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 29. It’s heartbreaking for friends and family.
We are still very connected these days aloneour jobs are being stolen artificial intelligence (AI) and robots, climate change are clouding our future, and pandemics are no longer theoretical. There are many stressors. But there’s another factor lurking inside our bodies that can also threaten our mental health: microbes.
A 2021 study at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found a link between suicide and gut microbes, but that wasn’t the final word. In recent years, new research has discovered important new connections.
Oral microbes
A recent Chinese study found a link between oral microbes commit suicide trends in high school students. They compared 45 healthy controls with 45 children with suicidal ideation and identified a microbial connection.
Specifically, they found Enterobacter, Escherichia, Shigellaand Parabacteroids oral the microbiome children who commit suicide. In contrast, healthy controls had higher levels Rikenellaceae and Alistipes.
Microbiomes are small ecosystems, and like any good ecology, diversity is a key factor. endurance. If rabbits are the only food for bobcats, when the rabbits die, the bobcats will soon follow. But with multiple predators, bobcats have a much better chance of survival.
Indeed, the microbial diversity of suicidal children was significantly lower than that of the control group. This disrupts stability and creates many opportunities for beneficial microbes to die. This unbalanced state is called dysbiosis, and it is a major symptom of suicidal tendencies.
This establishes an association but does not directly indicate causation. Although dysbiosis is probably instrumental, gut-brain axis a two-way street: Germs affect the brain, but the brain can also affect microbes.
It’s less satisfying than a rigorous reading of science, but loops like this are common in biology. Does it even matter? Two-way traffic gives us two possible methods of interference. We can improve our microbiome dietor we can improve our mood therapy. Since we can change both sides of the loop, we can effectively double the possible interventions. Either way, it allows the vicious cycle to turn into a good one.
Gut microbes
Another study in Iran found a link between suicide and the gut microbiome. As in the oral study, they found a decrease in microbial diversity among suicidal subjects.
They found specific microbes associated with suicidal thoughts, i.e Fusicatenbacter, don’t tell me, Veillonellaand Megasphere. They also found microbes associated with mental health, including: Clostridium, Butyricocci, Desulfovibrio girlsand Parabacteroides merdae.
Notably, these healthy bacteria are involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids, such as ambrosia-like butyrate, for the cells lining the gut, simultaneously healing and nourishing them. Butyrate is an amazingly powerful substance that reaches the brain, where it stimulates the growth of new nerve cells, improving the nervous system. memory, to knowand mood.
The researchers tested the “leaky gut” hypothesis, which describes how tiny cracks in the intestinal wall allow toxins and even microbes to enter the bloodstream. Iranian researchers found evidence of bowel disorders in patients who attempted suicide. With leaky gut, the immune system kicks in and chases the invaders as the heart expels them to all the organs in our body, including the brain.
The brain has a barrier designed to keep out microbes and immune cells, as both can kill cells. While most of our organs can regenerate tissue to some degree, the brain is special. When nerve cells die, so do memories.
The brain senses and responds to inflammation worry. It’s an evolutionarily appropriate response that prompts us to avoid social contact, preventing the spread of disease.
Chronic inflammation
If the cause is a bad bite of sushi, the leaky gut should clear up quickly and we can go back. But if the insult is constant, say from a terrible diet or an overbearing boss, then something else happens. The stress becomes chronic, which can weaken the brain barrier and the immune system can spread to the brain itself. This can lead to major brain dysfunction, including: psychosis.
In fact, Iranian researchers found that interleukin-6, an important inflammatory molecule, increased in the cerebrospinal fluid of people who attempted suicide. Interestingly, the association was stronger among those who chose more intense methods.
About 90 percent of suicides occur in people with a pre-existing mental illness, and researchers have looked at how the gut-brain axis affects those characteristics. psychiatric conditions. They found that it likes anti-inflammatory bacteria Faecalibacterium decreased in people with depression. They also found bacterial shifts in people with psychosis and schizophrenia. These findings mirror previous research on the gut-brain axis.
Researchers note that suicidal ideation is multifactorial. There are genetic components and environmental insults that contribute to this. But we cannot control ourselves genesand much of anxiety and depression is due to lack of control over harmful environments.
But we possible change our microbes.
What to do
While these studies don’t show causation, it’s not crazy to think that improving your microbiome can improve your mood and reduce thoughts about it. self harm. Microbes that improve mood are called psychobiotics.
We know what they like: lots of fiber (from vegetables) and enzymes (like kraut, kimchi, and yogurt). It is part of the Mediterranean diet, which ensures a long and happy life. We know that too alcoholic beverages and opioids can increase leaky gut.
It may not eliminate all the stress in our lives, but improving our microbiome is almost free and very beneficial. This study shows that it can even save lives.
If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, get help right away. For help, dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Visit to find a therapist near you. Directory of psychology therapy today.
