Arthritis sufferers are twice as likely to feel suicidal

PEOPLE with arthritis are being urged not to suffer in silence as research reveals that they are twice as likely to feel suicidal than those with healthy joints.

A study of almost 4,000 people found that 5.6% of people with arthritis had suicidal thoughts compared with just 2.4% of those not suffering from the chronic condition.

The authors from the National University of Athens in Greece and the US National Institute of Arthritis, said middle-aged people who have had arthritis for just a short period of time were at greatest risk of suicidal thoughts.