Suicide Flashcards
What is aborted suicide attempt?
Potentially self-injurious behavior with explicit or implicit evidence that the person intended to die but stopped the attempt before physical damage occurred
What is deliberate self-harm?
Willful self-inflicting of painful, destructive, or injurious acts without intent to die.
What is lethality of suicidal behavior
Objective danger to life associated with a suicide method or action.
- Note that lethality is distinct from and may not always coincide with an individual’s expectation of what is medically dangerous.
What is suicidal ideation?
Thought of serving as the agent of one’s own death;
- seriousness may vary depending on the specificity of suicidal plans and the degree of suicidal intent.
What is suicidal attempt?
Self-injurious behavior with a nonfatal outcome accompanied by explicit or implicit evidence that the person intended to die.
What is suicide?
Self-inflicted death with explicit or implicit evidence that the person intended to die.
Who commits suicide more often, men or women?
Men commit suicide more than four times as often as women
Who attempts suicide more often, men or women?
Women attempt suicide or have suicidal thoughts 3x as often as men.
What methods of suicide do men typically use?
- Firearms
- Hanging
- Jumping from high place
What methods of suicide do women typically use?
- Overdose of psychoactive substances or poison.
What age does suicide peak for men?
Age 45
What age does suicide peak for women?
After the age of 55
Suicide in the younger population occur in what age range?
15 to 24
- this is the 3rd leading COD in the younger population, after accidents and homicides.
Most suicides occur between what age range?
35 to 64
What ethnicity is the highest for suicide rates in both men and women?
Whites
- White > Native Americans > other > combo of Asian, Hispanic, and Blacks
What religion has the highest suicide rate?
Protestants and Jews in the United States have a higher suicide rates compared to Catholics.
How does your marriage status affect risk of suicide?
Marriage lessens the risk of suicide significantly, especially if there are children in the home.
What relationship status doubles the rate for suicide compared to those who are married?
Single, never-married persons
Divorce is known to increase suicide risk but is it more common for divorced men or women to commit suicide?
Divorced men 3x more likely to kill themselves as divorced women.
Are homosexual men and women at a higher or lower rate of suicide compared to heterosexuals?
Homosexual men and women appear to have higher rates of suicide than heterosexuals.
How does occupation/social status affect your risk for suicide?
- The higher the person’s social status, the greater the risk of suicide, but a drop in social status also increases the risk.
- Work, in general, protects against suicide.
What profession has been found to be at the greatest risk?
Physicians
- Others include Law Enforcement, Dentists, Artists, Mechanics, Lawyers, and Insurance Agents.
Is climate associated with suicide rates?
Suicides increase slightly in spring and fall, contrary to popular belief, not during December and holiday periods.
Does physical health contribute to suicide rates?
- 1/3 of all persons who commit suicide have had medical attention within 6 months of death
- physical illness is estimated to be an important contributing factor in about 1/2 of all suicides.
