Lithium, a light metal commonly used to treat bipolar disorder and mania, has been found to have a preventative effect on suicide. A study published in the British Medical Journal in 2013 showed that lithium reduced suicide rates by 87%. Now, scientists are exploring the possibility of adding lithium to drinking water to prevent suicides. While the concentration of lithium in drinking water is much lower than in approved medications, it is consumed continuously by humans. Some scientists believe that this long-term exposure could have an impact on human mental health.
A recent meta-study by the Brighton & Sussex Medical School found that regions with higher concentrations of lithium in their drinking water had lower suicide rates. The study analyzed 15 studies conducted since 1948 to create an overview of the relationship between lithium concentration in groundwater and suicide rates in the population. However, the study’s ecological nature limits its significance, as the concentration of lithium in drinking water is not continuously measured, and the population also consumes lithium through food. The authors of the study did not take into account this additional intake, which varies greatly depending on the region and the typical foods consumed.
To prove a causal relationship, a randomized study would be necessary, in which lithium is artificially added to drinking water in certain parts of a country. This would allow researchers to investigate whether the suicide rate actually decreases with higher lithium intake. However, the likelihood of such a study taking place is very low. While the potential benefits of adding lithium to drinking water are intriguing, more research is needed to fully understand the impact of long-term exposure to the metal on human mental health.
