Week 10 Flashcards
Suicide
what 2 things should not be reported in the media regarding suicide?
method, location
what should published material on suicide be accompanied with
info regarding 24hr support
what initiative regulates suicide reporting?
mindframe national media initiative
why don’t we use the word ‘committed’ suicide?
implies it is illegal. has religious connections. implies incarceration against their will
why not use ‘successful’ or ‘completed’ suicide?
denotes this is a competition. well done to them etc
why not use ‘failed’ or ‘unsuccessful’ suicid
implies the person is a failure
what is a less stigmatising way to talk about suicide?
suicided, died by suicide, ended his/her life, non-fatal attempt at suicide, attempted to end his/her life
approx how many Australians suicide each year?
2300
what % of males make up suicide rates in Australia?
76%
what % of females make up suicide rates in Australia?
24%
what % of females make up suicide rates in Australia?
24%
what are the high risk suicide populations in Australia?
mental health, indigenous
what are the high risk suicide populations in Australia?
mental health, indigenous
most pop 3 methods for suicide?
hanging/suffocation/strangulation, poisoning with drugs, poisoning with alcohol/car exhaust
what is the purpose of a systematic suicide risk assessment?
to identify: modifiable and treatable risk AND protective factors
what are the 4 components the risk equation template is made up of?
- long term risk 2. short term risk 3. hazards 4. protective factors
what is good about the risk equation?
way of organizing risk and protective factors into categories which easily highlight modifiable and treatable factors which then inform risk management
what is good about the risk equation?
way of organizing risk and protective factors into categories which easily highlight modifiable and treatable factors which then inform risk management
what 3 areas would you want to ask questions about when assessing long term risk?
personal history of suicide, family history of suicide, long-term problems
when asking about family and personal history for longterm risk what 4 things would u want to know?
previous suicide attempts, self-harm, suicide attempts/completions (family), psychiatric illness
what long term problems would you want to know about in a risk equation
interpersonal, unemployed? retired? physical illness, psychiatric illness, PD, forensic history, substance abuse
in the Korean study copycat suicides increase in the group that
have similar demographic attributes I.e the same gender as the celebrity, or in age groups younger than or equal to (vulnerable pop)
what are some social environmental factors that may influence suicide as mentioned in the Korean article?
average temperature, average humidity, weekly unemployment rates
In the Korean study what we’re the two top items from the WHO guidelines for suicide reporting that were found in news reports…
suicide as represented as glamorous or sympathetic, inappropriate headline I.e. “committed suicide” or including personal details
why is suicide risk assessment so important
because there is no empirically tested model for the prediction of suicide
in the risk equation what are 3 factors you need info about in understanding short-term risk?
current suicidal, recent stressors, acute mental health & physical illnesses
what constitutes recent stressors x4?
recent loss, interpersonal problems, school/work problems, finance Probs,
in a risk equation what is meant by potential hazards?
not necessarily ‘predictors’ of suicide but are factors in the bigger picture
3 examples of Hazards
- access to GP 2. environmental conditions (exposure to suicide - media) 3. service contacts/supports
in a risk equation what are 5 examples of protective factors?
no history of self-harm, no psychiatric history, lives in supported circumstances, no substance abuse, employed
what two factors are some of the most powerful predictors of suicide?
hopelessness and worthlessness
hopelessness can be seen as the mediating factor between
depression and suicide
depression without hopelessness is less or more likely to result in suicide?
less
highest risk factor in suicide according to the highest Standard Mortality Ratio?
existence of prior suicide attempts
what is HEADS?
A suicide risk assessment model used with young ppl
what does H stand for in HEADS?
home and health
what does E stand for in HEADS?
education & employment
what does A stand for in HEADS?
activities, ambition, affect
what does D stand for in HEADS?
disease & drugs
what does S stand for in HEADS?
suicide
in the HEADS assessment what questions can you ask about H?
how’s things at home? hows your health?
in the HEADS assessment what questions can you ask about E?
how’s school? are you working?
in the HEADS assessment what questions can you ask about A?
what do you like doing in your spare time? what are your goals for the future? how are you feeling?
in the HEADS assessment what questions can you ask about D?
what are your drinking habits like? do you use drugs at all? have you taken any drugs today?
what 5 areas would you ask question to assess risk
ideation, plan, lethality, intent, protective
two things not to do as a clinician conducting a suicide risk assessment
offer false reassurance, don’t avoid the word suicide
what 3 things to do as a clinician conducting a suicide risk assessment
monitor Your Own feelings and attitudes, follow up “not really” statements, if there are inconsistencies go back over them
what does crisis intervention address
immediate concerns
crisis intervention does not seek to
resolve long-term individual & family problems, or underlying life factors contributing to the suicidal behaviour.
first 3 clear goals in crisis intervention
calm person, reduce immediate suicide risk, reduce threat to others who maybe involved
next 3 goals in crisis intervention
enhance hope and confidence, improve effectiveness in tackling problems, arrange treatment of mental disorder/illness
how can you reduce immediate risk of suicide? x2
prevent/limit access to means, supportive networks in the persons life
how can you enhance hope and confidence?
ensure the person knows how your service and other services can help
crisis intervention has 6 steps. what are they?
- define the problem 2. ensure safety 3. provide support 4. examine alternatives 5. make plans 6. obtain commitment
