60 Questions
What is the leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 years?
Suicide
Which group has the highest rate of completed suicides in the United States?
Men
Who is more likely to overdose on medication in suicide attempts?
Women
What percentage of the population do adults older than 65 years compose?
10%
What is the estimated ratio of suicide attempts to completed suicides?
8-10:1
Which age group has the most rapidly increasing rate of suicide?
45-65 years
What is the most common method chosen for suicide among men in the United States?
Shooting
Who is at increased risk for suicide?
Divorced individuals
What is the percentage increase in suicides reported in the United States over the past two decades?
30%
What is the percentage of suicides committed by men in the United States?
70%
Which factor is associated with an increased risk for suicide?
Isolation
What does passive suicidal ideation refer to?
Thinking about wanting to die without plans to cause death
What is the meaning of active suicidal ideation?
Thinking about and seeking ways to commit suicide
What is the implication of suicidal ideation being considered active?
The person is considered more potentially lethal
What is the main reason for the difficulty in keeping accurate statistics on suicide?
Ambivalence involved in suicide
What is the implication of suicidal gestures being potentially lethal?
Threats should not be ignored or dismissed
What is the common myth about people who talk about suicide?
They never commit suicide
What is the implication of asking about suicide to a person suspected to be suicidal?
It is often a relief for the client to know that help is on the way
What is the implication of suicidal people having mixed feelings (ambivalence) about suicide?
They may have overt or covert cues for help
What is the implication of the belief that once a person is a suicide risk, they will always be a suicide risk?
With proper support, they can have positive resolution to the suicidal crisis
Which of the following psychiatric disorders is associated with an increased risk of suicide?
Substance abuse
What type of suicidal ideation involves thinking about and seeking ways to commit suicide?
Active suicidal ideation
Which environmental factor is associated with an elevated suicide risk?
Recent loss
What is the term for a suicidal act that either failed or was incomplete, often due to intervention or rescue?
Suicidal attempt
What is the misconception about mentioning the word 'suicide' to a potentially suicidal person?
It can plant the idea of suicide
What is the term for suicidal ideation involving wishing to die but having no plans to cause death?
Passive suicidal ideation
What factor can increase the risk of suicide and is characterized by impulsivity and erratic behavior changes?
Unstable lifestyle
What is the term for suicidal acts that may be impulsive and make accurate suicide statistics difficult to obtain?
Fatal accidents
What is the term for a suicidal act that involves a mixed feeling about the wish to die and can be helped with intervention?
Ambivalent suicide
What is the term for suicidal ideation involving thinking about and seeking ways to commit suicide?
Active suicidal ideation
What is the nurse's attitude when dealing with a client who has suicidal ideation or attempts?
Convey unconditional positive regard for the person and their desperation
What is the nurse's role in providing care for terminally or chronically ill people?
To provide supportive care for clients and families as they work through difficult emotional decisions
What is the topic of national legal and ethical debate mentioned in the text?
Assisted suicide
Which state was the first to adopt assisted suicide into law?
Oregon
What is the role of nurses when caring for suicidal people?
Convey the belief that one person can make a difference in another’s life
What is the attitude of many people towards assisted suicide for the terminally ill?
It should be legal for health care professionals or families to assist those who are terminally ill and want to die
What is the role of nurses in providing care for terminally or chronically ill people?
To provide supportive care for clients and families as they work through difficult emotional decisions
What is the attitude of nurses towards clients who have suicidal ideation or attempts?
Convey the belief that the person can be helped and can grow and change
What is the role of nurses in the national legal and ethical debate about assisted suicide?
To provide care for clients and families affected by the debate
What is the role of nurses when dealing with clients who have suicidal ideation or attempts?
Convey unconditional positive regard for the person and their desperation
What is the role of nurses when dealing with clients who have suicidal ideation or attempts?
Convey unconditional positive regard for the person and their desperation
What is the implication of asking about suicide to a person suspected to be suicidal?
It is important to ask in a nonjudgmental tone of voice
What is the topic of national legal and ethical debate mentioned in the text?
Assisted suicide
What is the attitude of many people towards assisted suicide for the terminally ill?
Believe it should be legal for health care professionals or families to assist
Which age group has the most rapidly increasing rate of suicide?
Adolescents and young adults
What is the implication of suicidal gestures being potentially lethal?
They should always be taken seriously
What is the misconception about mentioning the word 'suicide' to a potentially suicidal person?
It may trigger the person to attempt suicide
What is the role of nurses in providing care for terminally or chronically ill people?
Provide supportive care for clients and families
What is the implication of the belief that once a person is a suicide risk, they will always be a suicide risk?
It is a harmful misconception
What is the role of nurses when caring for suicidal people?
Convey the belief that the person can be helped and can grow and change
What is the nurse's attitude supposed to indicate when dealing with a client who has suicidal ideation or attempts?
Unconditional positive regard for the person and their desperation
What should the nurse convey when dealing with a client who has suicidal ideation or attempts?
Belief that the person can be helped and can grow and change
What is the nurse's role in providing care for terminally or chronically ill people?
To provide supportive care for clients and families as they work through difficult emotional decisions
What is the topic of national legal and ethical debate mentioned in the text?
Assisted suicide
What is the first state to adopt assisted suicide into law?
Oregon
What is the role of the nurse when caring for suicidal people?
To convey the belief that one person can make a difference in another’s life
What is the role of the nurse when asking about the details of a planned suicide?
To use a nonjudgmental tone of voice and self-monitor body language and facial expressions
What is the role of the nurse when dealing with a client's suicide?
To convey the belief that the person can be helped and can grow and change
What is the attitude of many people towards assisted suicide for the terminally ill?
It should be legal for health care professionals or families to assist those who are terminally ill and want to die
What is the role of the nurse when caring for terminally or chronically ill people?
To provide supportive care for clients and families as they work through difficult emotional decisions
Study Notes
Understanding Suicide Risk Factors and Myths
- Various psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse, PTSD, and borderline personality disorder, increase the risk of suicide.
- Chronic medical illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cerebrovascular accidents, and head and spinal cord injury are associated with an increased risk of suicide.
- Environmental factors like isolation, recent loss, lack of social support, unemployment, critical life events, and family history of depression or suicide can elevate suicide risk.
- Behavioral factors such as impulsivity, erratic behavior changes, and an unstable lifestyle can increase the risk of suicide.
- Suicidal ideation can be active (thinking about and seeking ways to commit suicide) or passive (wishing to die but having no plans to cause death).
- Attempted suicide refers to a suicidal act that either failed or was incomplete, often due to intervention or rescue.
- Suicide involves ambivalence, and many fatal accidents may be impulsive suicides, making accurate suicide statistics difficult to obtain.
- There are myths and misconceptions about suicide, and it is crucial for nurses to be aware of these and understand the facts and warning signs.
- Suicidal individuals may send subtle or direct messages of hopelessness, and these should be taken seriously for appropriate assessment and intervention.
- Suicidal people may have mixed feelings about the wish to die, and intervention can help them find new ways to cope and move forward in life.
- It is a misconception that mentioning the word "suicide" to a potentially suicidal person could give them the idea to commit suicide; in reality, asking about suicide can provide relief and help.
- While it is true that people who successfully commit suicide have often made attempts before, with proper support, the crisis can have a positive resolution, and the individual may no longer have a need for suicide as a resolution.
Test your knowledge of suicide risk factors and myths with this informative quiz. Learn about psychiatric disorders, chronic medical illnesses, environmental and behavioral factors, and understand the myths and misconceptions surrounding suicide. Gain valuable insights for identifying warning signs and providing appropriate intervention.
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