SUICIDE
- Gen. Information.:
- Ideation:
verbalization of wish to die
- Gestures: engaging
in nonlethal behaviors
- Actions: engaging
in behaviors or planning to engage in behaviors that have potential to cause
death
- May or may not be
associated with a psychiatric disorder
- Assessment findings
- Verbal cues
i. Overt: I’m going to kill myself
ii. Disguised: I have the answer to my problems
- Behavioral cues
i. Giving away prized possessions
ii. Getting financial affairs in order, making a will
iii. Suicidal ideation/gestures
iv. Indication of hopelessness, depression
v. Behavioral and attitudinal changes
- Nursing Intervention
- Contract with
client to report suicide attempt
- Assess suicide risk
- Keep client under
constant observation
- Remove any objects
that can be used in suicide attempt
- Therapeutic
intervention
i. Support aspect of wish to live
ii. Use one-to-one nurse/client relationship
iii. Allow client to express feelings
iv. Provide hope
v. Provide diversionary activities
vi. Utilize support groups
- Following a suicide
i. Encourage survivor to discuss client’s death, their
feelings and fears
ii. Provide anticipatory guidance to family
iii. Hold staff meetings to ventilate feelings
WHO WILL COMMIT SUICIDE?
S-
ex - Male (more successful); female (hesitant)
A-
ge – 15-25 y/o or above 45 y/o
D-
epression
P-
atient with previous attempts (will try again)
E-
thanol (Alcoholics)
R-
ational (opposite)
S-
ocial support (lacks)
O-
rganized plan (greater rik)
N-
o family
S-
ickness (terminal stage)