Suicide

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Suicide

• Theories

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Sociological Theories of Suicide

• Egotistic- occurs when a person lacks
• purpose in life and feels insufficiently
• integrated.
• Anomic- occurs when a person feels
• isolated from others through changes
• in social status or norms.
• Altruistic- as a response to social trends

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Assessment of suicide

• Verbal and non-verbal clues
• Overt and covert verbalization
• Behavioral clues- farewell notes, giving
• away prized possessions
• Somatic clues- sleep disturbances,
• weight loss, etc.

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Lethality of Suicide Plan

• Details of the plan
• Lethality of proposed method
• Availability of means

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High - Risk Factors of Suicide

• Social isolation
• Severe Life Events

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SAD PERSONS SCALE

• S Sex
• A Age
• D Depression
• P Previous Attempts
• E ETOH
• R Rational thinking loss
• S Social supports lacking

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SAD PERSONS cont.

• O Organized plan
• N No spouses
• S Sickness
• Points
• 0-2 treat at home with follow-up
• 3-4 closely follow ? hospitalization
• 5-6 strongly consider hospitalization

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Nursing Diagnoses - Suicide

• Risk for Violence
• Ineffective Individual Coping
• Ineffective Family Coping
• Hopelessness
• Powerlessness
• Self-Esteem Disturbance
• Chronic low self-esteem

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No-Suicide Contract

• Wording must be clear , NOT
  conditional
• I will not kill myself, accidentally or on
  purpose, etc.

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Treatment Modalities

• In patient setting
• Outpatient setting
• Telephone hotlines
• Establish rapport
• Allow ventilation of feelings
• Reinforce clients positive responses
• Identify the problem

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Treatment Modalities, cont.

• Assess lethality
• Have call traced, if necessary
• Evaluate positive coping
• Encourage alternatives
• Negotiate a No-Suicide contract
• Plan follow-up