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
suicidogenic situations
tragic situations
ex. athlete with career ending injury
depressive symptoms
particularly psychotic sympt. or alcohol abuse
behavioral warnings
strongest warnings prior to attempt
ex. give possessions away
method for examing prior attempt
dirt
d
dangerousness of prior attempt
ask how they were going to do it
i
impression of risk
- did they think they would die or did they realize a small amount wouldn’t hurt
r
rescue
- chance someone would intervene?
timing
the longer ago, the lower the risk today
other behaviors that suggest suicide
getting affairs in order, crying, sudden lift of depression, new behaviors
assessing degree of risk
ask if they’ve thought about hurting themselves. best way to ask is to be direct, opens window for conversation
assessing thoughts of suicide
slap
s
specific details
- the more details the higher the risk
l
lethality of method
- gun to head v. a few pills
a
availability of method
ex. have a gun in house
p
proximity to help
- parents downstairs or going into woods alone
more bizzare…
higher risk
slap isn’t accurate for ppl with…
psychosis, hallucinations, substance abuse
dialecticcal behavior therapy (DBT)
- helping emotional dysregulation, recognize feelings and learn to cope
- cognitive flexibility: learn techniques to manage emotions, appropriate ways to handle distress
