Suicide Prevention: 5

Question 1

Define suicide, suicidality, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and lethality

Answer 1

Suicide: The voluntary act of ending one’s life. Sometimes called suicide completion

Suicidality: Any thoughts, behaviors, or actions related to suicide, including thinking about, planning, or attempting suicide (all stages)

Suicidal ideation: thinking about and planning one’s own death.

Suicide attempt: nonfatal, self-inflicted destructive act with explicit or implicit intent to die

Lethality: the probability that a person will die from a suicide attempt

Question 2

High risk groups for suicide?
Suicide peaks when?
2nd peak when?

Risk factors of suicide?

Answer 2

**Older adults/ LGBTQIA+/ Black youth **
white middle-aged male 45y - 65y(70%)
Suicide peaks during middle age
2nd peak age 75 and older

Previous attempts
Access to lethal means
Social losses
Hopelessness

Medical and mental illness
Trauma
Recent psychiatric hospitalizations
Family Hx of suicide
Local epidemics

Question 3

Describe evidence-based assessment and
interventions to reduce both imminent and ongoing suicide risk (3)

Risk assessment for suicide?
Immenent risk?
Intermediate and long term risk?
What to do for Suicide risk?

Answer 3

Suicide assessment is always a priority!!
1.Identification of suicidal ideation
2.Elicitation of a plan
3.Determination of the severity of intent
4.Evaluation of availability of means

Immenent risk:
-ensuring **safety **
-reconnecting the patient with people and instilling hope
-restoring emotional stability and reducing suicidal behavior

Intermediate and long-term risk
Understand triggers, develop coping and goals
continuous engagement with healthcare services

Suicide risk
SAFETY
remove weapons
take statements and threats seriously
secure personal and professional belongings