Suicide Flashcards
Do females or males have the most suicide attempts? Who is more likely to complete the suicides? What is the most commonly used suicide method?
- males complete suicide 4x more than females
- females attempt 3x more often than males
- firearms - most commonly used suicide method - leads to completion, nearly 50%
What is the No. 1 cause of injury related death in the US?
- suicide
- been 28% increase in number of suicides since 2001
What is the 2nd leading COD among the young (15-24) in US?
- 2nd leading cause of death
- on the rise, rates have increased more than 200% from 50s-90s.
Most adolescent suicide attempts are precipitated by what?
- interpersonal conflicts
- intent of behavior appears to be to effect change in behaviors of attitudes of others
- adolescents are very impulsive
Suicide rate among young veteran men (18-29)?
- 56/100,000 (compared to 20/100,000 for non vets in this age range)
85% of elderly suicides involve which pop?
- males - 7x greater than female suicides
elderly white men
Strong correlation b/t chronic pain and?
- suicide, 20-30% of those who die by suicide have issues with chronic illness or pain
Mood disorders make up what % of suicides?
- 49-64%
- major depression - 20x risk of suicide
- approx 90% of those who complete suicide suffer from at least 1 major psychiatric disorder
- 2nd most frequent dx is a substance abuse disorder
Why is the rebound effect so dangerous?
- greatest suicidal risk is during the first 90 days after depression begins to lift
- suicidal thoughts or attempts were 4x more likely during first 10 days of tx than after 3 months
- highest rate of suicide isn’t while a person is in inpt tx, it is the first 30 days after d/c
Warning signs of suicide - IS PATH WARM?
I: ideation - expressed or communicated ideation threatening to hurt or kill hinself, looking for ways to kill himself or by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means, and or talking or writing about death, dying or suicide
S: substance abuse - increased alcohol or drug use
P: purposelessness - no reason for living, giving things away, not maintaining hygiene
A: anxiety - agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time, difficulty concentrating
T: trapped - feeling trapped (like there’s no way out and things will never get better)
H: hopelessness: no fute orientation
W: withdrawal - from friends, isolating from family and society
A: anger - rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge, irritable
R: recklessness - acting reckless or engaging in high risk activities, seemingly w/o thinking, impulsive behavior (esp young peeps)
M: mood change - dramatic mood changes, flat affect, depressed mood, acting out of character
situational cues - of suicidal person?
- being fired or being expelled from school
- recent unwanted move
- loss of any major relationship
- death of spouse, child, or best friend, esp if by suicide
- dx of serious or terminal illness
- sudden unexpected loss of freedom/fear of punishment
- anticipated loss of financial security
- loss of cherised therapist, counselour, teacher or pet
- fear of becoming a burden to others
What is the strongest predictor of suicide? what are the big 4?
- strongest predictor: previous attempt
big 4:
- past suicide attempt
- dx of mood disorder (20-30x the risk)
- increasing use/abuse of alcohol or drugs
- hx of self-harm (cutting)
What are suicidality signs specific to adolescents?
- volatile mood swings or sudden change in personality
- indications that they are in unhealthy, destructive, or abusive relationships
- sudden deterioration in hygeine
- self-mutilation
- fixation with death (poems, letters, chat rooms)
- eating disorders, esp combined with dramatic shifts in wt
- gender identity issues
- depression
What are suicidality signs specific to elderly?
- stockpiling meds
- buying a gun
- giving away money or possessions or sense of urgency to settle estate or finalize will.
- taken sudden interest or loss of interest in religion.
- failure to care for themselves in terms of the routine activities of daily living.
- withdrawing from relationships
- experiencing failure to thrive, even after appropriate medical tx
- scheduling a medical appt for vague sxs
- chronic issues of pain management
- undx depression
What health issues should be screened for in elderly b/f being dx with depression?
- alzheimers
- thyroid disorders
- MS
- heart attack
- stroke
- parkinson’s disease
- cancer
- diabetes
- hormonal imbalances
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- electrolyte imbalances or dehydration
- some viral infections