Discussion of coffee and lowering suicide risk

coffee

Many of us look forward to our morning cup of coffee to give us a little pep first thing in the morning.

We know all about the feel-good factor of the coffee beverage.

But can the caffeine elixir go further than that and help with issues such as the risk of suicide?

This has been a discussion in the press of late.

Why?

There have been suggestions that coffee can cut the risk of suicide significantly two cups daily could halve the risk, according to a recent report in the Daily Telegraph.

There is the suggestion that coffee consumption could cut depression.

These suggestions are based on an assessment of three large health and lifestyle studies of American health professionals.

The outcome which hit the headlines particularly was the suggestion that those who consumed over two or three cups daily cut their risk of suicide, when compared to those who drank less than a cup weekly.

The NHS has written an article to advise about the merits of these claims and it suggests that we act cautiously because of limitations on the studies.

For instance, only 0.1% of the study participants committed suicide and if this figure was reduced further by reference to coffee consumption, the suicide issue was rare.

It was suggested that any study which focuses on small numbers has a high possibility that associations are ascribed to luck or chance.

In addition, other factors were not taken into account for instance, worriers might avoid coffee as it exacerbates symptoms.

It is suggested in general that coffee consumption might not support mental health to the extent suggested in the press.

However, that doesn’t mean that a lovely cup of coffee doesn’t brighten your day and lift your mood, as with any other delicious sensory pleasure.