Psych-018 Suicide and head and neck cancer: A systematic review, meta-analysis and narrative synthesis

Jeff Hanna; Kairenjit McCloy; Angela McKeever; Jane  Anderson; Cherith Semple

doi:10.1007/s00520-025-09559-7

Abstract

Introduction
People with head and neck cancer are three times more likely to die
by suicide than the general population. Death by suicide is the highest
risk factor of death in patients with head and neck cancer, up to five-
years post diagnosis. There is an urgency to understand and address the
growing rates of suicidality within this population.
Methods
A mixed-methods systematic review following the PRISMA protocol.
Four electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and
CINAHL) were searched using MeSH terms and key word searches.
Grey literature searches were completed on Google Scholar and TRIP.
A total of 3665 recorded were identified; with 36 studies included stud-
ies. Of these, 22 focused on suicide completion, with sufficient data to
conduct a meta-analysis on several important risk factors for suicide
completion. The remaining 14 studies reported on suicide ideation for
this population, with the findings analysed within a narrative synthesis.
Findings and clinical implications were refined with input from a head
and neck cancer patient and public involvement group.
Results
Risk of suicide ideation and suicide completion was greatest in male
patients. Suicide completion was highest in patients within the first
six-months of diagnosis, who were widowed, or had cancer of the
hypopharynx. Suboptimal pain and symptom management appeared
related to a higher risk of suicide ideation. A therapeutic and support-
ive relationship with health and social care professionals was helpful
in managing experiences of suicidal ideation. There were no studies
reporting on the experiences of carers.
Conclusions
Health and social care professionals should identify, assess, support
and follow-up regarding thoughts of suicide for patients with head
and neck cancer. Clear pathways are necessary for the management of
suicidality, to include appropriate referrals to psychiatry/psychology,
supportive interventions to include medications that can help with pain,
distress or other symptoms.

Original language	English
Pages	S300
Number of pages	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-025-09559-7
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 14 Jun 2025
Event	Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Annual Meeting - United States of America, Seattle, United States Duration: 26 Jun 2025 → 28 Jun 2025

Conference

Conference	Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Annual Meeting
Abbreviated title	MASCC
Country/Territory	United States
City	Seattle
Period	26/06/25 → 28/06/25

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Access to Document

10.1007/s00520-025-09559-7

Cite this

@conference{9a26fd5aa6a74a6fb83457fe74225848,

title = "Psych-018 Suicide and head and neck cancer: A systematic review, meta-analysis and narrative synthesis",

abstract = "Introduction People with head and neck cancer are three times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Death by suicide is the highest risk factor of death in patients with head and neck cancer, up to five- years post diagnosis. There is an urgency to understand and address the growing rates of suicidality within this population. Methods A mixed-methods systematic review following the PRISMA protocol. Four electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL) were searched using MeSH terms and key word searches. Grey literature searches were completed on Google Scholar and TRIP. A total of 3665 recorded were identified; with 36 studies included stud- ies. Of these, 22 focused on suicide completion, with sufficient data to conduct a meta-analysis on several important risk factors for suicide completion. The remaining 14 studies reported on suicide ideation for this population, with the findings analysed within a narrative synthesis. Findings and clinical implications were refined with input from a head and neck cancer patient and public involvement group. Results Risk of suicide ideation and suicide completion was greatest in male patients. Suicide completion was highest in patients within the first six-months of diagnosis, who were widowed, or had cancer of the hypopharynx. Suboptimal pain and symptom management appeared related to a higher risk of suicide ideation. A therapeutic and support- ive relationship with health and social care professionals was helpful in managing experiences of suicidal ideation. There were no studies reporting on the experiences of carers. Conclusions Health and social care professionals should identify, assess, support and follow-up regarding thoughts of suicide for patients with head and neck cancer. Clear pathways are necessary for the management of suicidality, to include appropriate referrals to psychiatry/psychology, supportive interventions to include medications that can help with pain, distress or other symptoms.",

author = "Jeff Hanna and Kairenjit McCloy and Angela McKeever and Jane Anderson and Cherith Semple",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1007/s00520-025-09559-7",

language = "English",

pages = "S300",

note = "Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Annual Meeting, MASCC ; Conference date: 26-06-2025 Through 28-06-2025",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Psych-018 Suicide and head and neck cancer: A systematic review, meta-analysis and narrative synthesis

AU - Hanna, Jeff

AU - McCloy, Kairenjit

AU - McKeever, Angela

AU - Anderson, Jane

AU - Semple, Cherith

PY - 2025/6/14

Y1 - 2025/6/14

N2 - Introduction People with head and neck cancer are three times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Death by suicide is the highest risk factor of death in patients with head and neck cancer, up to five- years post diagnosis. There is an urgency to understand and address the growing rates of suicidality within this population. Methods A mixed-methods systematic review following the PRISMA protocol. Four electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL) were searched using MeSH terms and key word searches. Grey literature searches were completed on Google Scholar and TRIP. A total of 3665 recorded were identified; with 36 studies included stud- ies. Of these, 22 focused on suicide completion, with sufficient data to conduct a meta-analysis on several important risk factors for suicide completion. The remaining 14 studies reported on suicide ideation for this population, with the findings analysed within a narrative synthesis. Findings and clinical implications were refined with input from a head and neck cancer patient and public involvement group. Results Risk of suicide ideation and suicide completion was greatest in male patients. Suicide completion was highest in patients within the first six-months of diagnosis, who were widowed, or had cancer of the hypopharynx. Suboptimal pain and symptom management appeared related to a higher risk of suicide ideation. A therapeutic and support- ive relationship with health and social care professionals was helpful in managing experiences of suicidal ideation. There were no studies reporting on the experiences of carers. Conclusions Health and social care professionals should identify, assess, support and follow-up regarding thoughts of suicide for patients with head and neck cancer. Clear pathways are necessary for the management of suicidality, to include appropriate referrals to psychiatry/psychology, supportive interventions to include medications that can help with pain, distress or other symptoms.

AB - Introduction People with head and neck cancer are three times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. Death by suicide is the highest risk factor of death in patients with head and neck cancer, up to five- years post diagnosis. There is an urgency to understand and address the growing rates of suicidality within this population. Methods A mixed-methods systematic review following the PRISMA protocol. Four electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL) were searched using MeSH terms and key word searches. Grey literature searches were completed on Google Scholar and TRIP. A total of 3665 recorded were identified; with 36 studies included stud- ies. Of these, 22 focused on suicide completion, with sufficient data to conduct a meta-analysis on several important risk factors for suicide completion. The remaining 14 studies reported on suicide ideation for this population, with the findings analysed within a narrative synthesis. Findings and clinical implications were refined with input from a head and neck cancer patient and public involvement group. Results Risk of suicide ideation and suicide completion was greatest in male patients. Suicide completion was highest in patients within the first six-months of diagnosis, who were widowed, or had cancer of the hypopharynx. Suboptimal pain and symptom management appeared related to a higher risk of suicide ideation. A therapeutic and support- ive relationship with health and social care professionals was helpful in managing experiences of suicidal ideation. There were no studies reporting on the experiences of carers. Conclusions Health and social care professionals should identify, assess, support and follow-up regarding thoughts of suicide for patients with head and neck cancer. Clear pathways are necessary for the management of suicidality, to include appropriate referrals to psychiatry/psychology, supportive interventions to include medications that can help with pain, distress or other symptoms.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105009145719

U2 - 10.1007/s00520-025-09559-7

DO - 10.1007/s00520-025-09559-7

M3 - Abstract

C2 - 40515872

SP - S300

T2 - Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Annual Meeting

Y2 - 26 June 2025 through 28 June 2025

ER -