suicide

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o    Identify the signs and types of suicide behaviors.

·         Suicide and Types of Suicide Behavior

·         Introduction to Suicide

·         Suicide is defined as the intentional taking of one's own life.  

 

A leading cause of death in most Western countries, it is estimated that over 200,000 persons in the United States attempt suicide each year. Of that number, about 26,000 die from suicide. 

 

The actual number of suicides may be higher since official records often list a suicide as another form of death. 

·         Types of Suicidal Behavior

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·         Suicidal behavior is usually broken down into these types:

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o    Suicide Threats

o    Suicide Attempts

o    Suicide Gestures

o    Died by Suicide

• Examples of types of suicidal behavior are as follows:
• The suicide threat usually takes place before an actual suicide attempt. 

 

Suicide threats include statements such as "I just can't take it anymore." or "Will you remember me when I'm gone?" or "Take care of my family for me."  

• The suicide threat is an indication that the person can't make up his mind but is thinking of suicide. 

 Suicide attempts include any actions taken by the individual toward himself that will lead to death if not interrupted.  

•  A Suicide Gesture is really a cry for help. 

 

The individual carefully thinks out the ways in which he may be rescued from his suicide attempt.  

 

His plans may include a call to someone to say that he has just taken an overdose of some medicine or a suicide attempt in a place where he will be found and rescued. 

 

The methods most frequently used in a suicide gesture are superficial cutting of wrists and single drug overdose.  

·         Actions Behaviors and Signs Relating to Potential Suicides

·         Terms Relating to Potential Suicides are as follows:

·         • Behavior signs: The person's actions or behaviors may suddenly change greatly. 

 

A very thrifty person may suddenly begin spending more money than he earns. 

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·         • Crisis: This is the point at which the usual problem-solving or decision- making methods are no longer adequate.  

 

At this point, the person may be so overwhelmed that he selects suicide as the only way to solve his problems.

• Causes Leading to Potential Suicide
• • Depression: Feelings (moods) of sadness, despair, and discouragement describe depression. 

 

Depression may be disruptive to the individual causing:

• decreased ability to think
• diminished physical ability
• guilt
• self-condemnatio
• hopelessness
• disorders of eating
• sleeping disorders
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• • Intervention: This term refers to treatment by health care personnel when there is some question of the individual's ability to cope by using his own resources.
• Myths and Facts about Suicide
• Suicide attempts include any actions taken by the individual toward himself that will lead to death if not interrupted.  

 

A suicide gesture is really a cry for help.

• The individual carefully thinks out the ways in which he may be rescued from his suicide attempt.  

 

His plans may include a call to someone to say that he has just taken an overdose of some medicine or a suicide attempt in a place where he will be found and rescued.  

• Personal Loss as a Possible Cause of Suicide
• Possible causes of Suicide include the following:

 

Ending of a close, personal relationship or difficulty with a relationship.

  

Death of a loved one; spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, friend, or pet.

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·         There is a great deal of misinformation about suicides. Here are some of the more common myths and the facts:

·         Myth: People who talk about suicide don't actually commit suicide.

Fact:  About 80 percent of those people who talk about suicide attempt or commit suicide.

 

A person who talks about suicide may be giving a warning that he may try suicide.

 

Myth: A suicidal person will commit the act if he talks about his suicidal feelings to another person.

Fact: If you ask a suicidal person about his suicidal feelings, he will often feel relieved that someone finally realizes that he is in emotional difficulty.  

 

He will not commit the act just because you asked about his suicidal feelings.

 

Myth: All suicidal people want to die, and there is nothing anyone can do about their death wish.

Fact: Most suicidal people are undecided about whether to live or die. 

 

They often call for help just before or just after a suicide attempt.

 

Myth: Suicide is an impulsive act with no previous planning.

Fact: Not always. Most suicidal people have planned carefully and thought about the act for weeks.

 

Myth: A person who attempts suicide will not try again.

Fact: The majority of people who commit suicide have tried before.

 

·         Myth: Suicidal people are actually mentally ill.

·         Fact: Studies of many suicide notes reveal that the suicidal person is desperately unhappy, but that he is not necessarily mentally ill.

• Psychosocial Symptoms of Potential Suicide
• Most people who commit suicide give clues that they are experiencing serious difficulties.  

 

Some of these clues are related to human emotions and a change in the life-pattern of the person.  

• Many of these symptoms are caused by stress due to some current situation.  

 

Alcoholics in the family. Remember that a substance abuser may exhibit some of these same symptoms.  

·         Psychosocial Symptoms of Potential Suicide

·         Most people who commit suicide give clues that they are experiencing serious difficulties.  

 

Some of these clues are related to human emotions and a change in the life-pattern of the person.  

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·         Many of these symptoms are caused by stress due to some current situation.  

 

Alcoholics in the family. Remember that a substance abuser may exhibit some of these same symptoms.  

·         Physical Health Indicators

·         • Change in appearance

• Changes in appearance may indicate a person's mood and self-image

• Neglect of hair and/or personall hygiene

• Lack of concern for dress

• Bodily movement slowed, decrease in gestures, stooped and bent posture

·         Changes that may result in suicidal tendencies:

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o    Work Habits

o    Marital and Family Problems

o    Changes to Usual Patterns of Behavior

o    Personal and Social Changes

o    Change in work habits.

Lowered quality/quantity.

Inconsistent work pace.  

The work pace is likely to change frequently, without apparent reason.

Compulsive worker.

Lack of interest in work.

·         Marital and family problems. 

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·         Separation/divorce.

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·         Difficulties with spouse. 

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·         Child-rearing problems. 

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·         Loss of self-control.

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·         Social isolation. 

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·         Financial problems.

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·         Debts.

·         Changes in usual patterns of behavior.

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·         Loss of interest in recreation/hobbies.

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·         Loss of interest in people.  

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·         The individual may avoid family and friends and may also have a decreased sexual drive.

·         Living within a tight budget. 

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·         Interpersonal problems.

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·         Lover's quarrels.

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·         Difficulty in accepting authority. 

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·         Homesickness.

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·         Loss of supportive friends/family ties. 

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·         Difficulty with people at work.

• Immediate Danger Signs of Suicide Intent
• Immediate danger signals of suicide intent are as follows: 
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• Insomnia
• Inability to concentrate 
• Loss of appetite
• Apathy/social withdrawal
• Poor personal hygiene/sloppiness 
• Crying
• Feelings of worthlessness
• One or more of these signs seen in a person may indicate an immediate problem.
• Behavior Warnings of a Potential Suicide 
• A person may not make statements that indicate he is considering suicide. 

 

Instead, he may show through his behavior that he is suicidal. 

 

Organizing personal-business matters as if he were going away for a long time.

• Verbal Warnings of Potential Suicide
• The mythology surrounding suicide leads people to believe that the person who talks about suicide does not commit suicide. That is not true.   

  

Some examples of verbal warnings are:

 

"I'm getting out," or "I'm tired of it all." 

"I wish I were dead."

"I can't go on any longer."

"You're going to regret how you've treated me."

"If such and such happens (or doesn't happen), I'll kill myself." 

"Here, take this (valued possession). I won't be needing it anymore.''

• Other behavioral warnings are as follows:
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• Planning his own funeral shortly after the death of a loved one.
• Suddenly resigning from clubs and church groups to which he belongs. 
• Crying for no apparent reason.
• Composing a suicide note.  
• These are sometimes found days before the suicide occurs.
• Attempted suicide is the strongest behavioral warning. Other warnings can include:
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• Unexplained change from usual behavior patterns.  
• A non-drinker begins drinking to excess.
• Sudden, unexplained recovery from a severe depression.
• A person who hates guns suddenly buys one.
• Some persons who have decided to kill themselves may appear quite happy. Actually, they are not happy but relieved because they have made the decision to kill themselves. 
• You can not tell just by looking at the person.
• Management of the Potential Suicide
• The medical specialist should take appropriate intervention actions when an individual displays potentially suicidal behavior, or when a person is a clear and present danger to himself or to others.
• Communication with the patient should convey the message that you care about him.  

 

Assure the person that help is available, and you will assist him in getting that help.

·         Appropriate Intervention Actions 

·         Appropriate intervention actions are as follows:  

 

Do not leave an individual with suspected suicidal intentions alone at any time; he might kill himself. 

 

It is not easy to determine if a person is about to commit suicide.  

 

If you suspect that a soldier has suicidal intentions, refer him to specifically trained personnel, such as an MOS 91X (Mental Health Specialist).

If an individual should confront a medical specialist with immediate means of suicide on his person, such as medication, a knife, or a  gun, use caution in intervening so as not to endanger other people or yourself. 

Notify your immediate supervisor or NCOIC of possible need for intervention. 

• Appropriate Action to take with a Possible Suicide Person
• If physical and psychosocial symptoms along with verbal and behavioral warning signs are observed in the individual, discuss the situation with the NCOIC or with medical personnel in accordance with local directives.
• You may accompany the individual to a referral agency or to a consulting professional for assessment, or you may turn the individual over to the official in charge of transportation arranged for by Professional personnel.
• If the person seems to be about to attempt suicide soon, contact professional medical personnel by emergency call and proceed in accordance with local directives.
• Behavioral Warnings of Potential Suicide 
• As a medical specialist, you should become familiar with and knowledgeable about potentially suicidal patients. 

 

Awareness of pre-suicidal symptoms and signs could lead to intervention and prevention of suicide. 

 

Surely all of us experience times in our lives when we simply cannot face another day. 

 

There are times when life just doesn't seem worth the agony and pain it forces us to endure. Yet, however "appropriate" and strong these feelings of utter hopelessness seem to be and the fleeting impulse to end it all, most of us don't give in to the impulse.  

• The most important response to any suicide threat is to take it seriously - as if someone's life depended on your being concerned.
• Suicide is defined as the intentional taking of one's own life.  

 

A leading cause of death in most Western countries, it is estimated that over 200,000 persons in the United States attempt suicide each year. Of that number, about 26,000 die from suicide. 

 

The actual number of suicides may be higher since official records often list a suicide as another form of death. 

 

Suicidal behavior is usually broken down into these types:  

•  
• Suicide Threats
• Suicide Attempts
• Suicide Gestures
• Died by Suicide  
• Immediate Danger Signals of Suicide Intent are as follows:
•  
• Inability to concentrate 
• Loss of appetite
• Apathy/social withdrawal
• Poor personal hygiene/sloppiness 
• Crying
• Feelings of worthlessness
• One or more of these signs seen in a person may indicate an immediate problem.

·         A person may not make statements that indicate he is considering suicide. Instead, he may show through his behavior that he is suicidal. Organizing personal-business matters as if he were going away for a long time.

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·         The mythology surrounding suicide leads people  to believe that the person who talks about suicide does not commit suicide. That is not true.   

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·         Attempted suicide is the strongest behavioral warning.

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·         Appropriate intervention actions are as follows:  

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·         If physical and psychosocial symptoms along with verbal and behavioral warning signs are observed in the individual, discuss the situation with the NCOIC or with medical personnel in accordance with local directives. You may accompany the individual to a referral agency or to a consulting professional for assessment, or you may turn the individual over to the official in charge of transportation arranged for by Professional personnel. 

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·         If the person seems to be about to attempt suicide soon, contact professional medical personnel by emergency call and proceed in accordance with local directives.

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o    Describe conditions that are likely to cause suicide.

o    Distinguish between myth and fact issues concerning suicide.

o    Identify circumstances which aid in the identification of potential suicide victims.

o    Explain some immediate danger signals of suicide intent.

o    Identify the methods of managing a potential suicide victim.

• 
  
• Suicide is defined as the intentional taking of one's own life.  

 

A leading cause of death in most Western countries, it is estimated that over 200,000 persons in the United States attempt suicide each year. Of that number, about 26,000 die from suicide. 

 

The actual number of suicides may be higher since official records often list a suicide as another form of death. 

 

Suicidal behavior is usually broken down into these types:  

•  
• Suicide Threats
• Suicide Attempts
• Suicide Gestures
• Died by Suicide  

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