Dealing with suicidal patients Hospitals are required to administer treatment and or care to a patient that indicates he or she is suicidal. In many cases it involves monitoring and then lining up mental health services and a case manager to follow up. It is much better to work with a patient that voluntarily enters the hospital saying they are at suicide risk, as these patients are asking for help, a clear indication they have not given up completely. Suicide Facts Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year. This number may seem astounding, and in fact it is. This reflects a portion of our population that unfortunately see’s no other way out. In many cases they have become isolated from family or friends, and feel that no one cares, and no one will miss their presence. Another scenario is that the patient may feel their loved ones will be better off without them, or they have become a burden to them. In these cases the patient may feel hopeless for themselves, and feel that they are a drain on family. People need to feel they have a purpose in life that they are being productive in some manner, and often suicidal patients do not feel this way. Related: Patients with Skin Breakdown Suicide rates are highest during the spring. This may seem strange; spring is often the favored time of year for many people. For a severely depressed person however, it can be significantly different. They may have endured the harsh winter months with the anticipation that things will improve, and they will feel better. However as weather warm, and many people are excited for outdoor activities, life seems to remain the same for the depressed patient. They may see everyone and everything around them changing as spring is on them, but they feel left behind. The other factor involving spring is often the wind. A constant wind can actually increase an already depressed person’s risk of committing suicide. States that have a constant strong wind have the highest suicide rates. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds, and 2nd for 24-35 year olds. This is a very sad fact. Many young people do not know that help is available, and simply do not see a way out. Whether it is substance abuse, family issues, or just severe depression, the 24-35 year old group is one of the fastest growing age brackets. One theory is that during this age range many people see friends starting families and establishing careers. For those that may fall behind, they may feel like they have done something wrong and perhaps they are not where they should be
at this point in life. For the 15-24 age range, the increased risk of suicide often comes from peer pressure, or bullying. There are campaigns all over the country that now attempt to lessen bullying, and to become more accepting of ourselves instead of following guidelines of the media’s perfect body, perfect me roles. On average, 1 person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes. Essentially this means in the time it takes to read this article and comprehend it another person has taken their lives. Always take a person’s threat to commit suicide seriously. Even if their intentions are not immediate, it can be a call for help. Each time a person commits suicide it initially affects at least six other people. This can range from parents, spouses, children, grandparents, other relatives, and loved ones. There is almost always a sense of guilt for those close to someone that commit suicide. What could they have done differently, why didn’t they take more action, or they never thought that the person would actually follow through with their threat? This can be devastating on loved ones, and take years to get over, if ever. About two thirds of people who commit suicide are depressed at some of their deaths. Depression that is untreated, undiagnosed, or ineffectively treated is the number one cause of suicide. Depressed people are often reluctant to admit their depression, viewing it as a sign of weakness. Depression is real and it affects those in every category, from rich to poor from successful, to those with no responsibilities. Depression is no different than having the flu or an infection and needs to be acknowledged and treated, or it can result in death. There is one suicide for every 25 attempted suicides. Many suicides involve overdoses of medications, which may not be as affected as the victim anticipated. The good news is this gives the chance to work with the patient and prevent further attempts. In some cases the attempts are more of a cry for help and the victim actually does not want to commit suicide. These cases should also be taken seriously and adequate help provided. Related: What is Prader Willi Syndrome? Males make up 79% of all suicides while women are more prone to having suicidal thoughts. This is a clear indication that males are more proactive and tend to react on their feelings, while women may have the concern of those they leave behind. Males are also much less likely to seek help in any medical category especially depression. The idea that depression is an implication of a person’s strength and abilities needs to change, it’s a medical condition bottom line and needs to be treated.
One and 65,000 children between the ages of 10 to 14 commit suicide each year. This is almost always a result of peer pressure, or bowling. This is obviously devastating to parents many never have any idea that their child is having difficulties. There are two times as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS. We live in a society that people are programmed to think a certain way and live up to certain expectations, which in times now often involves influences from television and movies. For young people that feel they’re not living up to these expectations, they may feel worthless, and hopeless, often leading to thoughts of suicide. As a nurse, when you have a suicidal patient in your care, it is most likely your job to monitor and provide clinical treatment. However, showing empathy and understanding can go a long way in the person’s treatment. Be sure to follow the doctor’s orders and recommendations regarding the person’s access to freedom, until the threat has passed. Related: Respected Registered Nurse Tanya Aktar, RN, BScN, will be Spotlighted in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter