I did not write this. The people who did are fairly astute epidemiologists, and this is seen as fairly obvious. But you need fairly expensive long term studies to demonstrate this.
Divorce has been identified as a risk factor for suicide. However, little research has been conducted on the time trajectory of the influence of relationship separation on suicidal outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effects over time of relationship breakdown and separation on suicidality. Data were drawn from 6616 Australian adults participating in the PATH through Life Project, a population-based longitudinal study. Suicidal ideation was reported by 406 participants (6.1%), and 99 (1.5%) reported a suicide plan or attempt in the past year. The effects of separation on suicidality were strongest soon after separation, with a nearly three-fold increase in ideation (adjusted OR = 2.73, p < 0.001) and an eight-fold increase in plans/attempts (adjusted OR = 7.75, p < 0.001) in the two years following separation, gradually diminishing subsequently. The period up to four years before a separation was also found to be a time of increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviours, while marriage was protective. Separation is a strong risk factor for suicidality and mental health services should target recently separated individuals.
Graphically this looks like this:
This has reached the point where there a systematic reviews.
If you divorce, it is not eat, pray and love, but alcholism, depression, despair and a significant risk of death. Better to marry wisely.
Better still is to stay with the spouse you have.
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Disclosure: I know most of the authors of this paper.
If there was a disease that killed women at the same rate divorced men commit suicide, we’d see a huge outcry and a demand to find a cure.
If there was a disease that affected children the way divorce affects them, it would be the same.
This reveals priorities rather clearly.