wamss notes self harm and suicidality Flashcards
epidemiology of suicide
12 / 100,000
Males 3:1
acronym for remembering risk factors of suicide
SADPERSONS
SADPERSONS
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
other risk factors of suicide
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
predictors of suicide
Giving away / selling prised possessions
Affective state of hopelessness
Non-suicidal self-injury
Talking about suicide
Sudden change in mood or behaviour
screening for suicide
STARS Suicide Assessment
Hospitals usually have their own version
most common methods of suicide
Hanging, OD/poisoning, firearms, falls, sharp object, drowning
acute management of suicide
Acute management
CBT, behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, group therapy
Management of underlying mental illness
parasuicide
Term used to describe behavioural Analogues of Suicide
- Unsuccessful Suicide (suicide attempt)
- Self-harm
- Other similar conditions
suicide attempt
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
epidemiology of suicide attempts
0.3%
30 non-fatal suicide attempts for every death
Females 1.5:1
the stronger predictor of successful suicide
Non-fatal suicide attempt is the strongest predictor for successful suicide
self harm/ non suicidal self injury
Any intentional act of deliberate harm to one’s body tissues in a physical way without the intent of committing suicide
epidemiology of self harm and non suicidal injury
8%
Most common ages 12-24
risk factors of self harm and non suicidal self injury
Mental illness (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, substance abuse, PTSD)
History of trauma (mental, sexual, physical)
Resent crisis
Drugs & alcohol
reasons for self harm and non suicidal self injury
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
methods of self harm and non suicidal self injury
Cutting, overdose, burning, hitting body parts, interfering with wound healing
suicidal behaviour disorder
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
factors relevant to assessing suicide risk
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
factors relevant to assessing background risk factors of suicide
Background Risk Factors
- Previous hx of violence
- Previous use of weapons
- Forensic history
- Previous violent ideation
protective factors in suicide
- Insight
- Family
- Engagement with services
- Enjoyable activity
- Support networks
