Ch. 7 - Suicide Flashcards
Role of crisis
equilibrium is upset, problem solving strategies are ineffective
- crisis depends on perception (see suicide as only option)
- tunnel vision
tunnel vision
can’t see beyond what has happened, see suicide as only option
- don’t really want to end life, just want to end pain, want someone to give alternative
- at heightened susceptibility (more likely to accept help)
“typical suicide”
- majority don’t want to die, only escape pain
- highly susceptible state
- ambivalence
3 qualities of typical suicide
- helpless
- hapless
- hopeless
helpless
don’t feel they can resolve situtations, feel they don’t have the skill or confidence
hapless
sad things going on such as depression, death in family, lack of control
hopeless
those who actually die, need any grasp of future
hardcore suicidal person
determined, leave no clues, note, or warning signs
- pick a method guaranteed to work first time
motivators for suicidal behavior
- join a loved one (typically older ppl)
- escape intolerable situation
- avoid disease
- attention (faulty coping)
- manipulate (abusive relationship)
- punishment (self or others)
Demographics of suicide
- males > females in succeding
- females more likely to make multiple attempts
- professional more likely (lawyers, judges, psychologists)
- age: teens-early 20s, elderly
- single
- alcohol use
- veterans
teens-early 20s
frontal cortex not developed until mid-late 20s (in charge of reasoning/problem solving)
amigdala fully developed (in charge of emotions)
- young ppl with strong emotions don’t know how to cope
single
relationships are protective
alcohol use
sometimes drink beforehand
2019 study
veterans are 20% more likely than civilians to die by suicide
- combat vets more likely to experience anxiety and depression
early warning signals for suicide
- suicidogenic situations
- depressive symptoms
- verbal warnings
- behavioral warnings
