British Journal of Psychiatry, 177(6). doi: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.177.6.546. . Parenthood may also provide a protective effect against the risk of suicide in both men and women, although research indicates that this effect is more pronounced among women1Qin, P., Agerbo, E., Westergård-Nielsen, N., Eriksson, T., & Mortensen, P.B. (2000).