suicide

Question 1

myth or fact:
Suicide only affects individuals with a mental health condition.

Answer 1

myth

Question 2

myth or fact:
Many individuals with mental illness are not affected by suicidal thoughts, and not all people who attempt or die by suicide have mental illness.

Answer 2

fact

Question 3

myth or fact:
Most suicides happen suddenly without warning.

Answer 3

myth

Question 4

myth or fact:
Warning signs, verbally or behaviorally, precede most suicides.

Answer 4

fact

Question 5

myth or fact:
People who die by suicide are selfish and take the easy way out.

Answer 5

myth

Question 6

myth or fact:
Typically, people do not die by suicide because they do not want to live. People die by suicide because they want to end their suffering.

Answer 6

facts

Question 7

myth or fact:
When people become suicidal, they will always be suicidal.

Answer 7

myth

Question 8

myth or fact:
Active suicidal ideation is often short term and situation specific. While suicidal thoughts can return, they are not permanent.

Answer 8

fact

Question 9

myth or fact:
Talking about suicide will lead to and encourage suicide.

Answer 9

Myth

Question 10

myth or fact:
Talking about suicide not only reduces the stigma but also allows individuals to seek help, rethink their opinions, and share their story with others.

Answer 10

fact

Question 11

suicide

Answer 11

involuntary act of killing oneself, fatal, self-inflicted, destructive act

Question 12

suicidality

Answer 12

all suicide related behaviors

Question 13

suicidal ideation

Answer 13

thinking and planning own death

Question 14

suicide attempt

Answer 14

self-inflicted destructive act in an attempt to die but was nonfatal

Question 15

parasuicide

Answer 15

apparent attempt at suicide but the aim isn’t death

Question 16

lethality

Answer 16

probability that a person will successfully complete suicide

Question 17

suicide risk factors

Answer 17

-severe medical illness
-internal distress
-low self-esteem
-childhood physical/sexual abuser
-social isolation
-gender (men succeed more, women attempt more)
-alternative sexual practices
-previous attempt suicides
-immediate family member committed suicide

Question 18

etiology of suicidal behaviors- biologic theories

Answer 18

-genetic link
-hx of depression in family

Question 19

etiology of suicidal behaviors- psychological theories

Answer 19

-impulsivity
-difficulty making choices
-hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness
-negative thoughts
-depression

Question 20

etiology of suicidal behaviors- social theories

Answer 20

-social distress
-isolation
-economic disadvantage: poverty
-suicide contagion

Question 21

family response to suicide

Answer 21

-For every suicide an average of 5-6 survivors are impacted
-Increased for suicide if a person experienced it in family
-Survivors have increased grief, shame, depression, anxiety

Question 22

interdisciplinary treatment and recovery

Answer 22

-psych emergency
-priority care: ensuring safety (remove dangerous objects)

Question 23

risk assessment

Answer 23

-ask pt if they’re having suicidal thoughts
-if yes: do you have a plan -> do you have the means to do it

Question 24

interventions: imminent risk

Answer 24

-reconnect pt to other people & instill hope
-restore emotional stability and reduce suicidal behavior
-ensure safety

Question 25

interventions: intermediate and long term risk

Answer 25

-After care program within 7 days
-Teach pts to expect setbacks and times when they are unable to see much of a future for themselves
-Encourage pts to think of times in their lives when they were not so hopeless and consider how they may feel similarly in the future

Question 26

interventions: biologic domain

Answer 26

-tx injury first
-meds mgmt: focus on underlying psych disorder, ask about suicidal ideation or any underlying MHD, ECT
-tx depression

Question 27

intervention: psychological domain

Answer 27

-cognitive behavioral therapy, attempt to refrain dysfunctional thinking
-new coping strategies
-tx disease process

Question 28

interventions: social domain

Answer 28

-stigma reduction
-train in social interaction

Question 29

evaluation and tx outcomes

Answer 29

-short term: safety!! prevent suicide and use resources
-long term: suicide crisis plan and use resources

Question 30

documentation

Answer 30

-denial of suicidal ideation
-comorbidities: medical or substances

Question 31

nurse reflection

Answer 31

nurses of suicidal patient is vulnerable to secondary trauma and must take steps to maintain personal mental health