Chapter 22: Children and Suicide Flashcards
Suicide top 3 methods
firearm, suffocation, and poisoning
Signs + Symptoms
potential when faced with any of the following in the child or adolescent
- symptoms of depression or other mental illnesses
- withdrawal from friendships
- expression of hopelessness
- isolative behavior
- personality changes
- decline in schoolwork
- giving away personal possessions that were once prized
- preoccupation with death in writing or playing
- refers to dying or no longer being around
- access to a method of suicide (medications or weapons)
Diagnosis
-if concerned, nurse must ask child about suicidal thoughts or behaviors
>”have you thought about doing something to hurt yourself or take your life?”
>”do you ever wish you were not alive?”
>”what would you do if you were to hurt yourself?”
Prevention
-must ask about suicide ideation
>”does the child have a plan? is that plan possible?
>”has the child attempted suicide before?”
-if any factors are present, nurse must refer the child and family to a mental health professional who can assess level of risk
Nursing Insight: Primary and Secondary Prevention Strategies
- identify school-based programs that target students who are at risk for dropping out of school and assist the child or adolescent to remain involved in school
- cognitive-behavioral techniques may be used by conducting exercises, activities, and discussions that assist them to connect their thoughts with their behaviors
Nursing Care
- supportive of the child
- supportive of medication regimen
- treatments to treat the underlying psychiatric difficulty
Education/Discharge Teaching
- instruct family to provide protective measures for the child
- remove all potentially self or other harmful objects from the home such as guns or weapons
- rid cupboards of poisons, lock medicines away, and provide close constant supervision
- assist family in identifying strengths and resources available (e.g. crisis or suicide hot lines, counseling, and inpatient treatment facilities)
