Self-harm and Suicide Flashcards
What is self-harm?
Causing intentional pain or harm to one’s physical self. It is not a form of attention seeking, but a coping mechanism for dealing with overwhelmingly painful experiences and emotions.
What is suicidality?
Wanting to die
What is suicide?
The actual act of killing one’s self
Why do people who self-harm usually do not seek help?
Overwhelming feelings are unbearable, and causing physical pain can be a distraction from the emotions.
We can expand our view also to include life context, such as violence in the family and sexual assault
What did Emma mean by “the undeserving mental health client”?
There is a pervasive belief that people who self-harm are just attention seekers, but that’s not true! Rather than attention-seeking, it’s attention-needing.
How can suicide be related to everyone?
People who are at risk is not due to what’s going on inside, but it’s a lot of relational and contextual issues which we have all death with. And sadly, suicide is an option people take to end pain all together.
How do masculine norms affect seeking help for suicidality?
Masculine norms reinforce stoicism and avoidance of displays of emotion - seeking help is seen as feminine, which could be a cause for high number of male suicides in Australia
What are the warning signs of suicide?
Threats of suicide through talking, writing, and hinting
Depression, and even apparent sudden improvement after taking medication
Previous attempts
Feelings of hopelessness
How can we help those dealing with suicidality?
Don’t just make a checklist, but build trust and rapport through sensitivity so that the client feels you are reliable. Don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions (Have you made any plans? How close have you come?)
What are the effects on families after a suicide?
Families often feel embarrassed or ashamed, or feel guilty. However, it’s important not to avoid the question or the topic. Rather, it can be helpful to build a new perspective on life.
