Crisis Counselors’ Perceptions and Assessment of Suicidal Behavior Among Hurricane Survivors Receiving Crisis Counseling Services

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa M. Brown ◽  
Julie L. Framingham ◽  
Kathryn A. Frahm ◽  
Laurie D. Wolf

AbstractObjectiveThe aims of this study were to assess the awareness of risk for suicidal behaviors and perspectives of Project Recovery counselors who provided crisis counseling services to hurricane survivors.MethodsThe Short Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Rating Interview–Extended, a quantitative disaster mental health measure, was used to assess distress and dysfunction to the recent hurricanes. Project Recovery counselor data were collected through a 22-item qualitative interview.ResultsSeven out of 207 clients (3.4%) endorsed the quantitative item measuring suicidal ideation. Clients who reported suicidal ideation had significantly higher scores on items indicating a loss of enjoyment, feelings of depression, feeling less able to handle stress, and other mental health items. Counselor responses fell into 5 major themes: Assessment and Action, Client Characteristics, Services, Counselor Training and Preparedness, and Future Directions.ConclusionsSuicidal behavior is a serious mental health emergency, yet it remains a challenging issue as suicidal behaviors are complex and disaster survivors with suicidal ideation may experience intense psychological reactions to the event. In order to provide competent care to survivors experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors, the need for counselors to receive adequate training in suicide assessment and management is essential. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:291–300)

Author(s):  
Nuworza Kugbey ◽  
Martin Ayanore ◽  
Phidelia Doegah ◽  
Masauso Chirwa ◽  
Susan A. Bartels ◽  
...  

Pregnancy is associated with several physical and psychosocial challenges that influence women’s health and wellbeing. However, prenatal mental health has received little attention. Therefore, this study examined the prevalence and correlates of prenatal depression, anxiety and current suicidal behaviors among pregnant women in the Volta Region of Ghana. Two hundred and fourteen (n = 214) pregnant women recruited from two hospitals responded to the hospital depression and anxiety scale (HADS), the insomnia severity index, and a set of psycho-behavioral, socioenvironmental and demographic characteristic questions. Chi-squared, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for data analysis. Prevalence of prenatal depression, anxiety and current suicidal behaviors was 50.5%, 35.5% and 3.3%, respectively. After controlling for other variables, average monthly income, insomnia, non-nutritious food consumption (pica), and body image satisfaction were significantly associated with depression. Marital status, insomnia, lifetime suicidal behavior and partner support were significantly associated with anxiety. Current partner abuse was the only factor significantly associated with current suicidal behavior. The high prevalence rates of anxiety and depression among pregnant women and intimate partner violence remain important maternal health issues in the region. Therefore, brief mental health screening and counseling services should be integrated into prenatal healthcare services.


Author(s):  
Bibilola Damilola Oladeji ◽  
Babafemi Taiwo ◽  
Olushola Mosuro ◽  
Samuel A. Fayemiwo ◽  
Taiwo Abiona ◽  
...  

Background: Suicidality has rarely been studied in HIV-infected patients in sub-Saharan Africa. This study explored suicidal behavior in a clinic sample of people living with HIV, in Nigeria. Methods: Consecutive patients were interviewed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-10.0) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO-QOL-HIV-BREF). Associations of suicidal behavior were explored using logistic regression models. Results: In this sample of 828 patients (71% female, mean age 41.3 ± 10 years), prevalence of suicidal behaviors were 15.1%, 5.8%, and 3.9% for suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts, respectively. Women were more likely than men to report suicidal ideation (odds ratio 1.7; 95% confidence interval 1.05-2.64). Depression and/or anxiety disorder was associated with increased odds of all suicidal behaviors. Suicidal behavior was associated with significantly lower overall and domain scores on the WHO-QOL. Conclusion: Suicidal behaviors were common and significantly associated with the presence of mental disorders and lower quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. 675-698
Author(s):  
Berenice Pérez-Ramírez ◽  
Juan J. Barthelemy ◽  
Robin E. Gearing ◽  
Lindamarie Olson ◽  
Natalia Giraldo-Santiago ◽  
...  

In Mexico, suicide and suicidal behaviors (SB) have increased 275% since 1990. Prisoners constitute a growing population in Mexico and have been identified as high suicide risk. Using a sample of 194 male prisoners, we measure what demographics and mental health symptomology are associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and SB, and identify what demographics and mental health symptomology predict SI and SB. Global Severity and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) were significant predictors of experiencing SI, whereas global severity, ACEs, and age were significant predictors of experiencing SB. Findings support increased identification and comprehensive mental health services addressing suicidality in prisons.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saba Javed ◽  
Khadeeja Munawar

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an educational overview of suicidal behavior and the factors related to suicidality among students between the ages of 18 and 30 years. Design/methodology/approach The literature related to suicide among students were identified through various electronic database searches. The databases searched included: PsycINFO, PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC/ProQuest, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar and PMC using the following search terms and their derivatives: suicide/self-harm, suicide risk and students, mental health issues and suicide, substance use and suicide, childhood adversities and suicide, recent life stressors, help-seeking attitude and elevated suicidal risk, help-seeking behavior and suicide and subjective factors and suicide. Findings Suicide is an important public health problem. Several factors influence suicide (including suicidal ideation and taking life or dying by suicide) such as genetics, family functions, socioeconomic status, personality and psychiatric comorbidity. The main themes that were investigated included: mental health issues, childhood adversity and recent life stressors, barriers toward seeking professional help and subjective factors (psychache risk of suicidal behavior, impulsivity, aggression). Originality/value This review focuses on several modifiable psychological factors that have been shown to contribute toward suicidal ideation in youth, especially among university students.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1769-1778 ◽  
Author(s):  
MURRAY W. ENNS ◽  
BRIAN J. COX ◽  
TRACIE O. AFIFI ◽  
RON DE GRAAF ◽  
MARGREET TEN HAVE ◽  
...  

Background. Developmental adversities may be risk factors for adult suicidal behavior, but this relationship has rarely been studied prospectively. The present study examined the association between childhood adversities and new onset suicidal ideation and attempts in an adult population-based sample.Method. The study used a large community mental health survey (the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study; n=7076, age range 18–64 years). Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between childhood adversities and new onset of suicidal ideation and attempts over 3 years of longitudinal follow-up.Results. During the study period 85 new cases of suicidal ideation and 39 new onset suicide attempts were observed. The incidence rate for new suicide ideation was 0·67% per year and the incidence rate for new suicide attempts was 0·28% per year. Childhood neglect, psychological abuse and physical abuse were strongly associated with new onset suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Odds ratios (ORs) ranged from 2·80 to 4·66 for new onset suicidal ideation and from 3·60 to 5·43 for new onset suicide attempts. The total number of adversities reported had a strong graded relationship to new onset suicidal ideation and attempts. These associations remained significant after controlling for the effects of mental disorders.Conclusions. Childhood abuse and multiple adversities are strongly associated with future suicidal behavior and the mental disorders assessed in the present study do not fully account for this effect. A comprehensive understanding of suicidal behavior must take childhood adversities into account.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-121
Author(s):  
Marie Robert ◽  
Annie Desgranges ◽  
Monique Séguin ◽  
Guy Beauchamp

Aim This study examined the trajectory (life course) of youths, referred to community services following their suicidal behavior, in order to measure the extent to which these young people have taken this opportunity to modify connectedness with family, school, and workplace, and to change high-risk factors related to suicidal behaviors (mental health problems, delinquency, drug consumption). Method Fifteen youths (aged 16-19), who made one or more suicide attempts or had serious ideation in the previous 24 to 48 months, were referred to community services (Vallée-Jeunesse). They were interviewed using an intensive personal interview measures (Trajectory Instrument Measure, TIM) in order to document significant life events and adversities that occured during different periods of their life.In addition, we administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I and Axis-II disorders (SCID-I and SCID-II) to identify past and current psychopathologies. Results Several important changes took place following their entry into the community services: a reduction in delinquency and substance abuse/dependence, and positive changes in occupational status and suicidal behaviors (ideation and suicide attempt). Conclusion Our findings can inform policies and strategies that support the prevention of suicidal behavior among young adults. Community services providers can play a role in the prevention of suicidal behaviors for the most vulnerable youths. These types of services could complement traditional suicide prevention strategies, which are mostly mental-health based.


Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 348-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajime Sueki

Background: Previous studies have shown that suicide-related Internet use can have both negative and positive psychological effects. Aims: This study examined the effect of suicide-related Internet use on users’ suicidal ideation, depression/anxiety tendency, and loneliness. Method: A two-wave panel study of 850 Internet users was conducted via the Internet. Results: Suicide-related Internet use (e.g., browsing websites about suicide methods) had negative effects on suicidal ideation and depression/anxiety tendency. No forms of suicide-related Internet use, even those that would generally be considered positive, were found to decrease users’ suicidal ideation. In addition, our results suggest that the greater the suicidal ideation and feelings of depression and loneliness of Internet users, the more they used the Internet. Conclusion: Since suicide-related Internet use can adversely influence the mental health of young adults, it is necessary to take measures to reduce their exposure to such information.


Crisis ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisheng Du ◽  
Gabor Faludi ◽  
Miklos Palkovits ◽  
David Bakish ◽  
Pavel D. Hrdina

Summary: Several lines of evidence indicate that abnormalities in the functioning of the central serotonergic system are involved in the pathogenesis of depressive illness and suicidal behavior. Studies have shown that the number of brain and platelet serotonin transporter binding sites are reduced in patients with depression and in suicide victims, and that the density of 5-HT2A receptors is increased in brain regions of depressed in suicide victims and in platelets of depressed suicidal patients. Genes that code for proteins, such as tryptophan hydroxylase, 5-HT transporter, and 5-HT2A receptor, involved in regulating serotonergic neurotransmission, have thus been major candidate genes for association studies of suicide and suicidal behavior. Recent studies by our group and by others have shown that genetic variations in the serotonin-system-related genes might be associated with suicidal ideation and completed suicide. We have shown that the 102 C allele in 5-HT2A receptor gene was significantly associated with suicidal ideation (χ2 = 8.5, p < .005) in depressed patients. Patients with a 102 C/C genotype had a significantly higher mean HAMD item #3 score (indication of suicidal ideation) than T/C or T/T genotype patients. Our results suggest that the 102T/C polymorphism in 5-HT2A receptor gene is primarily associated with suicidal ideation in patients with major depression and not with depression itself. We also found that the 5-HT transporter gene S/L polymorphism was significantly associated with completed suicide. The frequency of the L/L genotype in depressed suicide victims was almost double of that found in control group (48.6% vs. 26.2%). The odds ratio for the L allele was 2.1 (95% CI 1.2-3.7). The association between polymorphism in serotonergic genes and suicidality supports the hypothesis that genetic factors can modulate suicide risk by influencing serotonergic activity.


Crisis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Jin Kim ◽  
Sung Seek Moon ◽  
Jang Hyun Lee ◽  
Joon Kyung Kim

Abstract. Background: A significant number of Korean adolescents have suicidal ideations and it is more prevalent among adolescents than any other age group in Korea. Aims: This study was conducted to attain a better understanding of the contributing factors to suicidal ideation among Korean adolescents. Method: We recruited 569 high school students in Grades 10 and 11 in Pyeongtaek, Korea. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation was used to measure suicidal ideation as the outcome variable. The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the School Related Stress Scale, the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire, and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance questions were used to measure thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, bullying, and previous suicidal behaviors, respectively. Data analyses included descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. Results: The findings suggest that perceived burdensomeness, hopelessness, school-related stress, and previous suicidal behaviors have significant direct effects on suicidal ideation. Hopelessness fully mediated the relation between thwarted belongingness and suicidal ideation, and partially mediated between perceived burdensomeness, school-related stress, and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: These findings provide more specific directions for a multidimensional suicide prevention program in order to be successful in reducing suicide rates among Korean adolescents.


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