What Triggers a Suicide?

Suicide

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world

Not officially classified as a mental disorder

But it is a symptom of many mental disorders


Know estimates and statistics provided in chapter

Know associated terminology (i.e., parasuicides)

Know reasons that make it difficult to obtain accurate figures on suicide rates and why investigators believe that estimates are often low

What Is Suicide?

Definition:

An intentioned death – a self-inflicted death in which one makes an intentional, direct, and conscious effort to end one’s life

Please familiarize yourself with the 4 kinds of suicide seekers in the chapter.

Know other associated behaviors:

subintentional death

self-injury

self-mutilation

How Is Suicide Studied?

Know the two different strategies used by researchers that want to better understand suicide:

Retrospective analysis

Survivors

Patterns and Statistics

Researchers have gathered statistics regarding the social contexts in which suicides take place

Differences between countries

Role of social environment and marital status

Gender differences

Racial and ethnic differences

Differences and rates related to age

What Triggers a Suicide?

Suicidal acts may be connected to recent events or current conditions in a person’s life


Know about the common triggers

stressful events

mood and thought changes

alcohol and other drug use

mental disorders

modeling

Treatment and Suicide

Treatment of suicidal persons falls into two categories:

Treatment after suicide has been attempted

Suicide prevention

Treatments Used After Suicide Attempts

Most victims need medical care

Psychotherapy or drug therapy may begin once a person is medically stable

Therapy goals:

Keep the patient alive

Reduce psychological pain

Help them achieve a nonsuicidal state of mind and a sense of hope

Guide them to develop better ways of handling stress

Unfortunately, even after trying to kill themselves, many suicidal people fail to receive systematic follow-up care

Suicide Prevention

Examples: suicide prevention programs and suicide hot lines

Both provide crisis intervention

Crisis intervention is better suited to address acute symptoms

Longer-term therapy is often needed for most

Know about the general approach utilized in these programs

Also know about other ways mentioned in the chapter to prevent suicide

Do Suicide Prevention
Programs Work?

It is difficult to measure the effectiveness of suicide prevention programs

Prevention programs do seem to reduce the number of suicides among those high-risk people who do call

Many have argued for more effective public education about suicide, as education is the ultimate form of suicide prevention

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