suicide Flashcards
suicide is the third leading cause of death in what age group
15-24 years
Contributing factors for suicide
- 50% have hx of depression
- 30% related to anger after conflict
- 20% substance abuse related
incidence of suicide
- more completions in males;
- 2 x more attempts in females
- more frequent in Caucasians
Risk factors for suicide
- poor social adjustment
- substance abuse
- psychological trauma
- delinquency
- impulsive behavior
Relationship variables for suicide
- recent rejections
- loss of a parent
- humiliation
- recent argument
- family discord
clues to distress in suicide
- often overlooked
- must look at whats normal for patients
- most teens demonstrate signs of depression
Comorbidities and suicide
- higher rates of behavioral disorders
- bipolar disorders
- substance abuse
- family history of mental illness
Associated factors for suicide
- school problems
- legal problems
- chronic medical conditions
- anxiety about homosexuality
- LGBT youth at increased risk
Risk assessment for suicide
- HEADSS
- maintain high level of suspicion while assessing
- use direct interviews with peers, family, and teachers
Maturation with suicide
- related to suicide;
- thought/planning required;
- if under 10 there is potentially no understanding of permanence of death
Evaluation with suicide
- mood-disorder identification is difficult
- interview/rapport are crucial
- level of confidentiality established
Evaluation for suicide for increased risk
- hospitalization for safety
- identification of means for plan
- conditions with impaired judgment such as depression, psychosis, substance abuse
Assessment goal for suicide
to obtain baseline information
differentials that might figure in for suicide
- medication reactions
- neurologic disorders
- nutritional conditions
- endocrine disorders
- malignancies
warning signs for suicide
- obsession with death
- poems/essays/drawings focused on death
- irrational behavior
- dramatic changes in appearance/personality
- threats
- overwhelming guilt/shame
- changes in eating
- severe drop in school performance
- giving away personal items
primary care and suicide
- screening is necessary
- no solid way to predict
- many barriers
CDC connectedness initiative
- social support
- participation
- decreasing isolation
- cohesion
- major initiative at federal level
Suicide definition
killing oneself;
- a person willingly taking his or her own life
suicidal attempt
- serious act that without accidental intervention, more accurate information, or luck, would prove fatal
Example of accidental intervention for suicidal attempt
- someone about to hang self from a tree only to be discovered unexpectadly by a passerby
example inaccurate information for suicidal attempt
- person firmly believes that taking four tylenol will kill him or her
suicide gesture
- person undertakes a nonfatal behavior as a cry for help or to get attention
suicide gamble
- engaging in suicidal act, understanding that luck, chance, or pattern may affect outcome
- gambles that he/she may die or someone will discover in time to save
suicide equivalent
- person does not intentionally attempt suicde but tests the reaction of others;
- indirect cry for help
suicidal threat
- person states that he/she will kill self if;
- may or may not be serious
- most complicated in romantic relationship
Suicidal ideation
- having passive or persistent thoughts of killing self
- may or may not have plan
Harmful, nonsuicidal acts
- people with chronic pain or insomnia may take more than prescribed dosage of meds
- unlikely consequences: comatose or serious effects
example: teenager seriously injured while trying to impress peers
Most common suicidal methods
- gunshot;
- drug/alcohol overdose;
- hanging;
- poisoning;
- carbon monoxide
medical risk factors for suicide
- mental health disorders {depression, bipolar, anxiety, schizophrenia};
- substance abuse
- impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
- hx of trauma or abuse
- hopelessness
- major physical illness, especially chronic pain
- previous attempt
- family hx of suicide
environmental risk factors for suicide
- job loss, financial trouble
- loss of relationship
- prolonged stress
- easy access to lethal means
- lack of social support and sense of isolation
- stigma associated with help-seeking behavior;
- barriers to accessing mental health/ substance abuse tx
protective factors for suicide
- access to effective, health, mental health, substance abuse;
- easy access to care: open-door policy
- restricted access to highly letha means of suicide
- strong connections to family/community
- skills in problem solving, conflic resolution;
- strong cultural/religious beliefs
- appropriate dx of depression
- access to antidepressnats
why do people commit suicide
- depressed;
- psychotic;
- impulsive;
- crying out for help;
- philosophical desire to die;
- made a mistake
reasons suicide is not attempted
- too depressed to act;
- stay alive for another person;
- religious reasons;
- condition or environment improves;
Facts and tips about suicide
- most attempts are expressions of extreme distress not harmless bids for attention;
- hearing about suicidal behavio or feeling suicidal does not mean a person will kill self;
- everyone deserves to be taken seriously
