Exam 3 Flashcards
psychological autopsy
examination of existing information after a person’s death for the purpose of understanding and explaining the person’s behavior before death
suicide
the act of intentionally taking one’s own life
non-suicidal self-injury (nssi)
self-inflicted harm/injurious behaviors without the intent to die
suicide attempt
non-fatal, self-induced behaviors with intent to die; a plan to die
suicidal ideation
thinking about or planning suicide
suicide stats
top 10th leading cause of death in US
10.7 mil people had/have thoughts
3.3 mil people make a plan
1.4 mil people attempt
1.2 mil people plan and attempt
0.2 mil no plans and attempt
most people dont…
want to die; they just want their pain and suffering to end and don’t see another solution
suicide often resulrs from
specific temporary emotional crisis
there are various methods of suicide including:
using firearms, drowning, suffocation, poison, jumping
suicide rates
native americans/alaskan have highest rates
men have highest rates becasue they use more lethal methods
the highest rates are in males 85+ years
why are men more likely to commit suicide?
their mental health often goes unreported
unlikely to get/receive help
economic conditions/relations
outstanding medical issues
“burdens”
isolation
interpersonal theory of suicide
suicide attempts occur when 3 major factors occur:
1. perceived burdensomeness
2. thwarted belongings (don’t feel like they belong)
3. acquired capacity for suicide- comfy with thoughts and ideas of suicide
drug and alcohol use
lowers ambitions and increases impulsions, 70% of suicide attempts involved a substance
socioeconomic stressors are:
a huge impact on suicide
some risk factors
previous history
chronic pain
losses
depressive thoughts
rational conflicts, isolation
easy access to lethal means
family turmoil
white/NA, male, LGBTQA+
substance abuse
low SES; economic
some protective factors
good emotional, problem-solving, conflict resolution
willing to get help
cultural/religious beliefs
open to treatment
family and community
no/difficult access to lethal means
connection/responsibilities (social bonds)
Five steps to prevent suicide
- ask
- keep them safe
- be there
- help them connect
- stay connected
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
focus on vulnerabilities with suicide. question and challenge distorted thoughts and turn them into helpful thoughts.
dialectical behavior therapy (dbt)
focuses on helping client accept their current lives and the emotional anguish they feel. an important goal for suicidal clients is learning to regulate and tolerate their emotions rather than allowing emotions to overwhelm them and result in a suicidal act.
chain analysis in dbt
during this phase, the client describes all the events, stressors, thoughts, interpersonal conflicts, and other factors, such as drug use, that led to the suicide attempt. this information allows the mental health professional to devise a specific treatment plan based on the client’s unique circumstances. the adolescent’s family members also participate in a similar chain analysis.
safety planning in dbt
clients work with the therapist to develop a prioritized list of internal and external coping strategies and social supports that can be relied on during a suicidal crisis
psychoeducation in dbt
the client and family learn about suicide prevention, safety issues, and strategies for regulating emotions. parents are taught how to actively listen and validate feelings, problem-solve, and participate in self-care.
building hope and reasons for living in dbt
the therapist helps the client focus on reasons for staying alive such as friends and family, plans for the future, or things the client would like to do or accomplish. coping strategies make more sense when there is hope for the future.
learning and using adaptive strategies from cbt and dbt to deal with specific problems
the client is given homework that involves making use of strategies learned in therapy
