Lecture 2/3 Suicide Flashcards
What is the primary purpose of the Ontario mental health act? And who can be treated under it?
Is to regulate the administration of mental health in Ontario.
Any person who has a disorder of the mind and requires treatment b/c it seriously impairs the persons ability.
Define suicide?
The voluntary act of killing oneslef
Define suicidal ideation?
The thinking about/planning of ones own death
Define suicidal behaviour?
Self inflicted actions with a non fatal outcome accompanied by explicit or implicit evidence that he person intended to die.
Define parasuicidal?
Self-injurious behaviour or self harm that mimics suicidal behaviour. PRIMARY INTENTION IS NOT TO KILL ONESELF.
Define lethality?
The probability that someone will be successful in their suicidal attempt. This varies by the method, means and availability to the means.
Gender considerations in suicide?
Men commit suicide almost three times more than women in Canada. This is not due to greater attempts but the tendency to choose more lethal means.
Risk factors that affect men and women differently include:
Experiences of violence (increases in women but decrease if they have a small child)
Family upbringing
Economic deprivation
Unemployment (serious risk factor for both genders)
On avg how many survivors does suicide leave?
6
What is the annual world-wide suicide rate?
1 million
It is the leading cause of preventable death
Pediatric considerations for suicide?
In children suicidal tendencies often present with somatic symptoms including headache, stomach ache as opposed to outward sadness.
Tend to be more irritable than sad.
Suicide in youth >10 yo is rare.
Suicidal ideation and self harm is more common among adolescents.
15-19yo presents a serious suicide risk.
200+ suicidal attempts for every ‘successful’ suicide
Impact of sexual orientation on suicide risk?
The stress related to sexual orientation or coming out may increase pressure of adolescents. They may increase risk for depression and suicide over and above the risk for adolescents.
Geriatric risk factors for suicide?
Suicide is common among older adults, and the prevalence is disproportionate to the population size.
2-4 suicide attempts for every ‘successful’ suicide–> much greater lethality than the avg population.
Risk of suicide in Aboriginal populations?
Aboriginal suicide rates are as much a 40x higher than that of the general population. It is also likely that these rates go under reported.
Note in Aboriginal communities with a strong sense of ownership, culture, and community there are much lower rates of suicide.
What is the financial cost for each suicide attempt?
Approx 5,500 in hospital fees.
What are the 7 risk factors for suicide?
- Family history
- Suicidal ideation/behaviour
- Mental illness: any mood, depressive, psychotic disorder, substance abuse or addiction
- Personality factors: rigid personality with poor coping mechanisms, personality disorders and emotional instability
- Medical illness: chronic pain, sensory impairment
- Negative life events and transitions:
- Functional impairment: issues with ADLs, loss of independence.
