class 8 Flashcards
What are the three types of suicidal behavior mentioned, and how do they differ?
The three types of suicidal behavior are completed (results in death), attempted (intended to be lethal but does not result in death), and gestures (attempts with lower lethal potential, such as cutting or overdosing on vitamins). They differ in the outcome, ranging from fatal to non-fatal.
How does the book differentiate between a suicide threat and a suicide attempt?
A suicide threat is any interpersonal action, verbal or non-verbal, without a direct self-injurious component that a reasonable person would interpret as communicating that suicidal behavior might occur soon. In contrast, a suicide attempt involves self-inflicted, potentially injurious behavior with a non-fatal outcome for which there is evidence (explicit or implicit) of intent to die.
According to U.S. suicide statistics, what is the ranking of suicide among all causes of death, and are there gender-based differences in suicide rates?
Suicide ranks tenth among all causes of death in the U.S. Men are more likely to die by suicide using lethal means, while women attempt suicide more frequently. On average, there are 130 suicides per day in the U.S.
How many people are estimated to attempt suicide and complete suicide in Canada daily, and what was the ranking of suicide as a cause of death in 2021?
According to the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, around 200 people attempt suicide, and 10 people complete suicide each day in Canada. In 2021, suicide was ranked as the 12th leading cause of death in the country.
What gender differences exist in suicidal behavior, according to the information provided?
Men tend to choose more lethal methods such as guns, while women often take pills or cut their wrists. Men are less likely to report suicidal thoughts or seek help compared to women. The World Health Organization statistics from 2019 reveal that, in certain countries, women have a higher suicide rate than men.
According to Durkheim’s sociological model, what does excessive individuality lead to, and how is it related to suicide?
Excessive individuality, as defined by low social integration or low belongingness, leads to egoistic suicide. This occurs when individuals become detached from society, resulting in a sense of excessive individualism, contributing to suicidal tendencies.
Explain how mass suicides can be categorized into hetero-induced suicide and self-induced suicide, providing an example for better understanding.
Hetero-induced suicide typically occurs in defeated and colonized populations, where individuals prefer death to capture or murder. Self-induced suicide is motivated by a distorted evaluation of reality within a socially bound group. An example of self-induced suicide is the tragic incident in Jonestown, Guyana, led by Jim Jones, where more than 900 people died from cyanide-laced punch.
What does Durkheim suggest about the relationship between social regulation and suicide, and what are the two types of suicide associated with excessive and insufficient social regulation?
Excessive social regulation leads to fatalistic suicide, where individuals feel there is no freedom or choice, such as suicide in jail. Insufficient social regulation creates conditions for anomic suicide, occurring when the relationship between the individual and society is suddenly disrupted, often due to trauma or catastrophe.
How does social influence, specifically the phenomenon of contagion, relate to suicide, especially among adolescents and young adults?
Contagion in suicide involves copycat suicides within the same locale and closely related in time, often triggered by one person’s suicide. Adolescents and young adults can be susceptible to contagion, leading to cluster suicides, where two or more suicides are non-randomly close in time. Suicide pacts and “net suicides” arranged between strangers on the Internet are also mentioned.
What are the two types of suicide discussed under “Suicide as Escape,” and can you provide an example of surcease suicide?
The two types of suicide under “Suicide as Escape” are surcease suicide and rational suicide. Surcease suicide is exemplified by individuals feeling life has become unbearable, often influenced by a loss of meaning or a negative sense of self. An example is suicide in China, where suicide is the leading cause of death among young adults.
What are some risk factors associated with suicide in adolescence, and why does this age group experience an increased risk?
Suicide risk factors in adolescence include interpersonal conflict, losses, legal and disciplinary problems linked to impulsive behavior, bullying, risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, and family violence. Adolescents aged 10-14 start to exhibit suicidal tendencies, often linked to various psychosocial stressors such as those mentioned.
Identify the risk factors associated with suicide in middle adulthood and late adulthood, and why are older adults at the highest risk?
In middle adulthood (35-65 years old), risk factors include not meeting life goals in career, marriage or family, depression, substance abuse, and negative life events. In late adulthood (over 65), older white men who are widowed are at the highest risk, and risk factors include being divorced, widowed, living alone, living with psychological problems, and physical illness.
Why are doctors and dentists at higher risk of suicide, and what factors contribute to their increased vulnerability?
Physicians and dentists have higher suicide rates, often associated with depression, knowledge, and access to lethal methods. Dentists, in particular, face challenges like access to drugs, a poor public image, and the isolating nature of their work.
Which occupations, contrary to expectations, have high suicide rates, and why might this be surprising?
Manual laborers working in isolation have the highest suicide rates compared to other types of workers. The surprise lies in the misconception that occupations with greater social interaction might have higher risks.
According to studies, what are some stressful life events associated with an increased risk of suicidal behavior, and how does the number of stressful events correlate with the risk?
Stressful life events associated with suicide attempts include major financial crises, being a victim of a crime, serious problems with neighbors, friends, or relatives, and impaired social relationships. Studies indicate that the more stressful events, the higher the risk of suicidal behavior.
