Chapter 9: Suicide

Question 1

Provide definition of following terms

Answer 1

Suicide: the intentional, direct, and conscious taking of one’s own life

Suicide ideation: thoughts about suicide

Psychological autopsy: the systematic
examination of existing information
after a person’s death for the purpose of understanding and explaining the
person’s behavior

Alcohol induced myopia: alcohol-induced impairment of percep-
tion and cognition, specifically, a narrowed focus on imme-
diately salient events, desires, or behaviors to the exclusion
of less immediate ones. This can lead, for example, to ag-
gressive behavior if an intoxicated individual focuses on
(and overinterprets) an immediate threat rather than con-
sidering the potential negative ramifications of responding
to that threat. [identified by U.S. psychologists Claude M.
Steele (1946– ) and Robert A. Josephs (1961– )

Copycat suicide:A copycat suicide is defined as an emulation of another suicide that the person attempting suicide knows about either from local knowledge or due to accounts or depictions of the original suicide on television and in other media.

Suicide lethality:Lethality is the possibility or degree to which any biological change that could have endangered the life of the suicide attempter

Question 2

What is suicide

Answer 2

The intentional direct and conscious taking of one’s own life.

Question 3

What are suicidal ideation

Answer 3

Thoughts about suicide

Question 4

Define psychological autopsy

Answer 4

The systematic examination of existing info after a person’s death for the purpose of understanding and explaining the person’s behaviour before death.

Question 5

What reasons are there for increased suicide attempts among children

Answer 5

Bullying
Bullying can include physical bullying threats and target of teasing rumors gossip or coercion.

Copycat suicide
Where youngsters in certain community attempt suicide in response to suicide of a peer.

Decreased use of antidepressant medication
Increased suicide risk for children and adolescents taking SSRI antidepressants

Question 6

What to do if u have suicidal thoughts

Answer 6

Promise yourself to not do anything right now.

Avoid substance use

Make your environment safe or go to a safe environment

Remember there’s always hope

Don’t keep your suicidal ideation to yourself

Question 7

What to do if someone else is having suicidal ideation

Answer 7

Ask by starting a conversation so they can share their thoughts and feelings

Listen calmly empathetically without judgement

Seek help