Risk Factors that cause Suicide 1. Depression/mental disorders that originate from substance abuse – 90% 2. Stressful life events 3. Prior suicide attempt 4. Family history of suicide 5. Family history of mental disorders or substance abuse 6. Family violence including physical or sexual abuse 7. Firearms in home -> method used in more than ½ the suicides 8. History of incarceration 9. Exposure to the suicidal behaviors of others – includes family members & close friends. 10. Changes in brain chemicals – these are in the neurotransmitters (lower levels of serotonin) * Act impulsive * History of suicide attempts

Suicide – permanent solution to a temporary problem

Characteristics in Family Dynamics of Suicidal individuals: 1. Rigid rules 2. Poor communication patterns 3. “Smother love” – prevents independence 4. Patterns of dysfunction * Ex: alcoholism, divorce, absent parent, or mental illness

Increase of suicide in elderly * >85 have a higher rate of suicide, which is more than double the national average. It’s because people are living older and older * More likely in elderly men due to: 1. Depression 2. higher alcohol abuse 3. higher levels of poor physical health 4. loss of relationships due lower social skill and tend to isolate

Talking about suicide will not increase the likelihood

Warning signs: 1. Depression 2. Loss of appetite 3. Self neglect 4. Neglect of home, finances, and pets 5. Giving away priced possessions 6. Changing a will 7. Drinking too excess 8. Previous suicide attempts
Causes of Suicide: 1. Psychiatric suicide – associated with the delusional state of mind * Individuals experience hopeless view of life = lower self image * Biochemistry profile is involved 2. Escaping – cant tolerate something anymore 3. Sub-intentional suicide – individual attempt suicide but assumes that they wont die because they will be rescued but they make a mistake * Cry for help that went wrong * You get secondary gain because you are center of attention when something bad happens

Suicide Myths: 1. People who talk about suicide don’t commit suicide 2. Suicidal people are fully intent on dying 3. Only people in certain economic class commit suicide 4. Asking people about suicide will encourage suicidal attempts -> open communication about suicide saves lives 5. Only mentally unstable people commit suicide

Suicidal prevention: 1. Kindness can go a long way 2. Do not be judgmental 3. Know what resources are available in the community 4. Don’t dare someone/ use provocation/ don’t belittle 5. Don’t joke about this

Grief – price we pay for having loved. If we don’t love an object, we won’t experience grief * Normal * What was taken from you when that person died & how will you recover?

Grief reactions: 1. Normal grief * Enhacemental suffering, deep sorrow, shock, numbness, difficulty realizing loss has happened, insomnia, anxiety, tension * Psychological development = can change normal grief reactions -> abnormal if they didn’t successfully develop 1st category

2. Anticipatory grief * Practice that significant other wont be alive in a certain amount of time * May fantasize what person will look like dead at viewing funeral and etc. * 3 stages : depression, rehearsal of death, and attempt to adjust of consequences of death

3. Inhibited, delayed, absent grief * When a person delays feeling, they become vulnerable to “anniversary” reactions - makes it harder for anniversary/holidays and etc. * People hide and mimic isolation 4. Chronic grief/perpetual mourning * Persistent mourning, move into denial *