LAUSR

BACKGROUND: Depression has long been accepted as a serious disability and burden globally, while suicide is a misunderstood and complex cause of death. Psychache is the psychological variable most strongly associated with suicidality. Spirituality is considered an important buffer against stressful events and may help people overcome distress and difficulties. AIMS: This study aims to determine how psychache and suicide risk are related to levels of spiritual well-being in patients with depression. METHODS: Data were collected using the Suicide Probability Scale, the Psychache Scale, and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale. The sample study consisted of 150 Turkish patients diagnosed with depression and receiving psychiatric care. RESULTS: It was found that higher level of spiritual well-being led to decreased risk of suicide and lower level of psychache. Suicide risk increased in parallel to the increasing levels of psychache (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that higher levels of spiritual well-being may promote a significantly lower risk of suicide and lower levels of psychache. Likewise, increasing levels of psychache may lead to an increase in suicide risk.