Understanding Suicide: Prevention and Epidemiology

Suicide

Intentional act of ending one's own life.

Suicide attempt

An act of trying to end one's life.

Suicidal behavior

Actions indicating intent to harm oneself.

Terminology to avoid

Language that misrepresents suicide's nature.

Commit suicide

Outdated term; suicide is not a crime

Successful suicide/failed attempt

Misleading term; completion is not success or is someone surviving a failure

Preventable

Suicides can be stopped with proper intervention.

Epidemiology

suicide impacts on the most vulnerable of the world's population and is highly prevalent in already marginalized and discriminated groups of society.

Global suicide rate

804,000 deaths annually; 11.4 per 100,000.

2nd Leading cause of death globally

Suicide for ages 15-29.

Common suicide methods

Pesticide ingestion, hanging, and firearms.

Canadian suicide rate

11.4 per 100,000; ~4000 annually.

in richer countries, what's the ratio of men and women dying to suicide?

3x as many men die then women attempt.

in low to middle class countries, the male-to female ratio is

much lower at 1.5 men to each women

suicide accounts for ____% of all violent deaths in men and _____% in women

50%, 71%

what age is the highest rate of suicide ?

70 years or over

Local BC suicide statistics

500 suicides annually in BC, Canada.

CACUSS, 2016 canada cohort NCHA survey gathered what were the main causes of suicide?

- overwhelming anxiety

- self harm

-depression

- attempted once already

what are the three main risk factors

1. health system and societal risk factors

2. community and relationship risk factors

3. individual risk factors

Health system risk factors

- Barriers to accessing care

-access to means

- inappropriate media reporting and use

- stigma in seeking help.

Community risk factors

-disaster, war, conflict

- stresses of acculturation

- discrimination

- trauma or abuse

- isolation/lack of social support

- relationship conflicts.

Individual risk factors

- Previous attempts

-mental disorders

- harmful use of alcohol and other substances

- job or financial loss

- hopelessness.

- chronic pain and illness

-family history of suicide

- genetic and biological factors

Cues and warning signs

verbal, behaviour, situational

Verbal cues

Direct or indirect statements about self-harm.

Behavioral cues

Changes in mood, performance, or social interaction, exit strategies, or getting a gun, giving personal items away, getting affairs sorted, interest or disinterest in religion, drug/alcohol abuse or relapse, visits local bridge

Situational cues

- being fired or expelled, unwanted move, death of a loved one, serious or terminal illness, loss of freedom, loss of financial security, lack of support, tragic event

Protective factors

- strong relationships

- religious or spiritual beliefs

- positive coping strategies

Prevention strategies

Research, policy, and practice to reduce suicides.

Three Step Theory (3ST)

Model explaining the progression to suicidal behavior.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Annual event promoting awareness and prevention efforts.

QPR

Question, Persuade, Refer; suicide prevention training.