Archive for July, 2009
Protective Factors
Posted by: | CommentsSome individuals and communities are more resistant to suicide than others. Little is known about these protective factors. However they might include genetic and neurobiological makeup, attitudinal and behavioral characteristics, and environmental attributes. According to the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Suicide6, protective factors include:
• Effective and appropriate clinical care for mental, physical and substance abuse disorders,
• Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking,
• Restricted access to highly lethal methods of suicide,
• Family and community support,
• Support from ongoing medical and mental health care relationships,
• Learned skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes, and
• Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation instincts, including American Indians practice of non-separation of culture, spirituality, and/or religion.
As with prevention and intervention activities, when programs to enhance protective factors are introduced, they must build on individual and community assets. They must also be culturally appropriate. As an example protective factors enhancement in any one of Montana’s American Indian communities must capitalize on the native customs and spiritual beliefs of that nation, tribe or band.
Source: http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf
Part 4 Prevalence of Suicide in Montana – Montana’s Unique Characteristics
Posted by: | CommentsSuicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in our state (Montana), second only to motor vehicle accidents.
A fourth reason listed by State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan at http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf is:
Montana’s Unique Characteristics
• Much of Montana epitomizes geographical isolation, accentuated by the harsh winter climate.
• Since the arrival of the earliest white settlers, there has been an ingrained social culture that has accepted suicide as a part of life in Montana.
• Montana’s rate of suicide has proven resistant to improvement from previous prevention efforts.
• There is a lack of availability and access to mental health services in many areas in the state, in part due to the state’s remoteness.
• There is a prevalent and proud “western” culture and attitude among the Caucasian majority in Montana – ‘we can take care of ourselves.’
• Frequently, there is access to firearms that are not properly stored.
• There is a lack of transportation services for some people that inhibits their ability to seek or receive help.
• There is a lack of communication infrastructure (phones, cellular service, and Internet access) in some areas, including American Indian reservations, frontier and rural areas.
• Montana ranks high in alcohol and substance abuse when compared to other states in the U.S
This is the last of 4 posts. To see the other’s please visit the archives.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in our state (Montana), second only to motor vehicle accidents.
A third reason listed by State of Montana Suicide Prevention Plan at http://www.sprc.org/stateinformation/PDF/stateplans/plan_mt.pdf is:
Lack of mental health providers and treatment facilities
• There is a shortage of inpatient mental health treatment facilities. The availability of this vital resource is diminishing with the closure of inpatient psychiatric beds.
• There is a severe lack of appropriate comprehensive outpatient services.
• There is insufficient integration of traditional and culturally specific interventions
• Montana has a severe shortage of psychiatrists, especially child and adolescent psychiatrists
• There is a lack of physicians capable of providing appropriate psychiatric medication treatments
• There is a lack of post intervention services
This is the third of 4 posts. To see the other’s please visit the archives.
What to Do if You Think a Person is Having Suicidal Thoughts
Posted by: | CommentsWhat do you do if you think a person is having suicidal thoughts?
(Information provided by the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine)
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
You cannot predict death by suicide, but you can identify people who are at increased risk for suicidal behavior, take precautions, and refer them for effective treatment.
ASK – Ask the person directly if he or she is having suicidal thoughts/ideas, has a plan to do so, and has access to lethal means:
- “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
- “Have you ever tried to hurt yourself before?”
- “Do you think you might try to hurt yourself today?”
- “Have you thought of ways that you might hurt yourself?”
- “Do you have pills/weapons in the house?”
Ø This won’t increase the person’s suicidal thoughts. It will give you information that indicates how strongly the person has thought about killing him or herself.
Ø Take seriously all suicide threats and all suicide attempts. A past history of suicide attempts is one of the strongest risk factors for death by suicide.
Ø There is no evidence that “no-suicide contracts” prevent suicide. In fact, they may give counselors a false sense of reassurance.
LISTEN AND LOOK – Listen and look for red flags for suicidal behavior, indicated by the mnemonic:
IS THE PATH WARM?
Ideation – Threatened or communicated
Substance abuse – Excessive or increased
Purposeless – No reasons for living
Anxiety – Agitation/Insomnia
Trapped – Felling there is no way out
Hopelessness
Withdrawing – From friends, family, society
Anger (uncontrolled) – Rage, seeking revenge
Recklessness – Risky acts, unthinking
Mood changes (dramatic)
ACT –
- If you think the person might harm him or herself, do not leave the person alone.
- Say, “I’m going to get you some help.”
- Call the National Suicide Prevention LifeLine, 1-800-273-TALK. You will be connected to the nearest available crisis center. OR…
- Got to SAMHSA’s Mental Health Services Locator (www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/) or Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator (http://dasis3.samhsa.gov/).
