Suidal Threats
Suicide is a type of deliberate self harm and is defined as an intentional human act of killing oneself.
Etiology
1. Psychiatric disorders
• Major depression
• Schizophrenia
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Dementia
• Delirium
• Personality disorder
2. Physical disorders
• Patients with incurable or painful physical disorders like, cancer and AIDS.
3. Psychological factors
• Failure in examination
• Dowry difficulties
• Marital difficulties
• Loss of loved object
• Isolation and alienation from social groups
• Financial and occupational difficulties.
Risk Factors
1. Age
• Males above 40 year of age
• Females above 55 year of age
2. Sex
• Men have greater risk of completed suicide.
• Suicide is 3 times more I men.
• Women have higher rate of attempted suicide.
3. Being unmarried, divorced, widowed or separated.
4. Having a definate suidal plan
5. History of previous suicidal attempts.
6. Recent losses
7. Major depression
• One of the commonest conditions associated with a high risk of suicide.
• Suicide is due to pervasive and persistent sadness.
• Pessimistic conditions concerning the past, present and future, delusions of guilt, helplessness, hopelessness abs worthlessness, and derogatory voices urging him to take his life
• The risk of suicide is more when the acute phase has passed and the Characteristic psychomotor retardation has improved.
• This is so because the patient has more energy to carry out his suicidal phase now
8. Schizophrenia
• The presence of associated depression
• Young age
• High levels of premorbid functioning (especially during college education)
• People in this risk group are more likely to realize the devastating significance of their illness more than other groups of schizophrenic patients do, and see suicide as a reasonable alternative.
9. Mania
• This is usually the result of grandiose ideation, the patient may believe that he is a great person, or wish to prove his supernatural powers.
• With this intend I mind, he may carry out some dangerous activity that can cost him his life.
10. Drug or alcohol abuse
Suicide among alcoholics
• Can be due to depression in the withdrawal phase.
• Also, the loss of friends and family, self respect status, and a general realization of the having alcohol has created in his life can cause the individual to wish to die.
11. Personality disorder
• Individuals with histrionic and borderline traits may occasionally attempt suicide.
12. Organic conditions
Conditions such as
• Delirium and dementia due to changes of mood like anxiety and depression may also include suicidal tendency.
Management
• Beware of suicidal signs.
• Monitor the patient's safety needs.
• Encourage verbal communication of suicidal ideas.
• Enhance self esteem of the patient.
Suicidal Threats
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