wamss notes self harm and suicidality

Question 1

epidemiology of suicide

Answer 1

12 / 100,000
Males 3:1

Question 2

acronym for remembering risk factors of suicide

Answer 2

SADPERSONS

Question 3

SADPERSONS

Answer 3

Sex: male
Age: <20 or >45
Depression or other mental illness
Previous Attempts
ETOH/drugs
Rationality Loss
Supports lacking
Organised Plan
No spouse
Sickness: chronic illness

Question 4

other risk factors of suicide

Answer 4

Low socioeconomic status
aboriginal or tress strait islander
Reduced accessibility to health care
Legal problems
Loss- death of someone, financial, work
Ongoing exposure to bullying
Losing a friend / family to suicide
Relationship troubles
Rural

Question 5

predictors of suicide

Answer 5

Giving away / selling prised possessions
Affective state of hopelessness
Non-suicidal self-injury
Talking about suicide
Sudden change in mood or behaviour

Question 6

screening for suicide

Answer 6

STARS Suicide Assessment
Hospitals usually have their own version

Question 7

most common methods of suicide

Answer 7

Hanging, OD/poisoning, firearms, falls, sharp object, drowning

Question 8

acute management of suicide

Answer 8

Acute management
CBT, behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, group therapy
Management of underlying mental illness

Question 9

parasuicide

Answer 9

Term used to describe behavioural Analogues of Suicide
- Unsuccessful Suicide (suicide attempt)
- Self-harm
- Other similar conditions

Question 10

suicide attempt

Answer 10

A suicide attempt is a self-initiated sequence of behaviours by an individual who,
at the time of initiation, expected that the set of actions would lead to his or her own
death

Question 11

epidemiology of suicide attempts

Answer 11

0.3%
30 non-fatal suicide attempts for every death
Females 1.5:1

Question 12

the stronger predictor of successful suicide

Answer 12

Non-fatal suicide attempt is the strongest predictor for successful suicide

Question 13

self harm/ non suicidal self injury

Answer 13

Any intentional act of deliberate harm to one’s body tissues in a physical way without the intent of committing suicide

Question 14

epidemiology of self harm and non suicidal injury

Answer 14

8%

Most common ages 12-24

Question 15

risk factors of self harm and non suicidal self injury

Answer 15

Mental illness (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance abuse, PTSD)
History of trauma (mental, sexual, physical)
Resent crisis
Drugs & alcohol

Question 16

reasons for self harm and non suicidal self injury

Answer 16

Transferring mental pain to physical
Coping mechanism providing temporary relief of intense feelings such as anxiety, depression,
stress, emotional numbness or sense of failure
Release tension or a build-up of emotions
Communication that they need help

Question 17

methods of self harm and non suicidal self injury

Answer 17

Cutting, overdose, burning, hitting body parts, interfering with wound healing

Question 18

suicidal behaviour disorder

Answer 18

Within last 24 months pt has made a suicide attempt
Act does not meet criteria for non-suicidal self-injury
Does not apply to suicidal ideation or preparatory acts
Act was not initiated in a state of delirium or confusion
Act was not undertaken solely for political or religious reasons

Question 19

factors relevant to assessing suicide risk

Answer 19

Current Factors

• Expressing intent to harm others
• Recurrent / current violence
• VRO
• Command hallucinations
• Paranoid ideation about others
• Access to available means
• Access to vulnerable persons

Question 20

factors relevant to assessing background risk factors of suicide

Answer 20

Background Risk Factors
- Previous hx of violence
- Previous use of weapons
- Forensic history
- Previous violent ideation

Question 21

protective factors in suicide

Answer 21

• Insight
• Family
• Engagement with services
• Enjoyable activity
• Support networks