Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a common global condition, and with an ageing population, this is likely to increase. CNCP greatly impacts on an individual’s physical and mental health, quality of life and socio-economic status. Emerging research suggests an association between CNCP and suicide-related behaviours, with people living with CNCP 2-3 times more likely to engage in suicidal behaviours than the general population. This seminar will examine the prevalence and associations between suicide-related behaviours and chronic pain using three different data sources. First, the National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing will be used to examine suicide and chronic pain at the population level. Secondly, chronic pain and suicide will be examined in the Pain and Opioids IN Treatment study. A national cohort of people prescribed opioids for CNCP. Finally, data from the National Coronial Information System will be utilised to examine characteristics of people who have CNCP and die by suicide.
Speaker bio:
Dr Gabrielle Campbell, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
Gabrielle is an NHMRC Australian Public Health Early Career Fellowship recipient and has worked at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), Faculty of Medicine, UNSW, since 2006. Gabrielle's PhD, completed in 2016, focused on suicidal behaviours amongst people living with chronic non-cancer pain and has been crucial in identifying chronic non-cancer pain as a suicide risk-factor. Gabrielle's research interests include pharmaceutical opioids, opioid dependence and suicidal behaviours amongst people living with chronic non-cancer pain. She currently coordinates a large prospective study examining the benefits and outcomes of prescription opioids for chronic pain, the Pain and Opioids IN Treatment (POINT) study.