Research shows omega-3 may be a tool in suicide prevention.
By Adrian Zupp
You’ve heard that fishing can be good for stress, right? Well, it seems that what you catch just might be even better for your mental health than simply dangling a line.
Recent studies have indicated that omega-3 – which is found in fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseed and other foods, and can also be purchased in supplement form has some pretty specific and dramatic benefits. It may aid the mental health of combat troops and even reduce suicidal tendencies in veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The study that has been most responsible for this renewed interest in omega-3 – and, specifically, the key ingredient docosahexaenoic, or DHA – was published last August in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. It compared blood samples taken from 800 service members in the period 2002 to 2008, who committed suicide, with blood from 800 other troops. Findings showed that test subjects with low levels of DHA were 62 percent more likely to commit suicide.
Though the indications are very encouraging, the jury is still out on the power of DHA to prevent suicide. “Omega-3s are a potential tool for suicide prevention, not a cure,” said the lead study author, Army Col. Michael Lewis, MD. “Suicides are complex and multi-factorial.”
But the military is extremely interested in getting to the heart of the matter as soon as possible and further studies are underway. In addition, omega-3 is now being regarded as an important component of optimal nutrition for troops, which the military has cited as one of the eight domains of Total Force Fitness.
If you’d like to do a quick check-up on your mental health, take a free, anonymous online screening for depression, alcohol, posttraumatic stress disorder or anxiety.
Adrian Zupp is the marketing and communications writer at Screening for Mental Health.
