Suicide and DSH

Question 1

what is a rational suicide

Answer 1

suicide in the absence of a psychiatric illness

Question 2

do the majority of people who self harm have a psychiatric illness

Answer 2

no

Question 3

is suicide more common in men or women

Answer 3

men (except in china)

Question 4

what is the peak age of suicide in affluent and lower income countries

Answer 4

middle age - affluent

15-20 - lower income

Question 5

where in UK has highest suicide rate

Answer 5

scotland

Question 6

do males/ females use more violent methods of suicide

Answer 6

males

Question 7

how does socioeconomic class influence suicide

Answer 7

most deprived have highest rates

Question 8

what season is suicide most common in

Answer 8

springtime

Question 9

what jobs have highest rates of suicide

Answer 9

farmers, doctors, dentists, construction workers, unskilled labourers

Question 10

what does access to means and availability of method do to suicide rates

Answer 10

directly proportionate

Question 11

what is the biology of suicide and DSM

Answer 11

Patients with hx of DSH have lower CSF 5-HIAA (metabolite of serotonin) than psychiatric controls
Reduced binding to 5-HT transporter sites in Ventral PreFrontal Cortex- PM
Increased post-synaptic 5-HT1a receptors- PM

Question 12

what is seen in neuroimaging in patients with DSH

Answer 12

different PFC activity

decreased frontal activity

Question 13

how does the media influence suicide rates

Answer 13

reporting suicide and the method increases the rate of suicides and the use of that method

Question 14

what is the peak age and gender for DSH

Answer 14

younger (15-19) girls

Question 15

who is most at risk of suicide after DSH

Answer 15

Older
Male
Unemployed, N.E.E.T or retired
Single, separated or divorced
Isolated
Poor health
Psych Dx
Violent DSH
Suicide note
Hx of DSH

Question 16

what are the motives for DSH

Answer 16

To die
To escape anguish
To escape a situation
To display desperation
To influence others
To get back at others
To get help
To repeat what has helped before
To roll the dice

Question 17

what is hopelessness a predictor of

Answer 17

eventual fatal self harm

Question 18

what can you ask someone suicidal

Answer 18

“I realise things have been really bad: has it ever got so bad you thought life wasn’t worth living?”
“How close have you come? What stopped you?”
“What might help stop getting to that point again?”
“What are the things that would keep you going?”

Question 19

what other services can help after DSH

Answer 19

Psychiatry/psychology
Counselling: Cruse, Rape Crisis, Womens’ Refuge
Social Work
Addictions
Samaritans

Question 20

what group of people are more likely to repeat DSH

Answer 20

Previous DSH
Personality disorder
-OH or other drug abuse
Previous Psych Rx
Unemployed (N.E.E.T)
Low Socio-economic group
Criminal record
25-54 years of age
Single, separated or divorced