Mental Health and Psychosocial Issues in Pediatric Suicide – Review of the National Child Death Case Reporting System

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe an intervention with a group of homeless men from the Horn of Africa, service users of the Horn of Africa Health and Wellbeing Project in London. The group was conceived by the second author who noted the presence of significant psychosocial issues for her clients, but equally their reluctance to access mainstream mental health or social care services. Design/methodology/approach Designing the group and introducing it to the men involved threw up some challenges which are explored, and the impact of the group on participants is evaluated. Findings Overall both the participants and the facilitators evaluated the group positively and it appeared to have led to lasting change for some of the group members, and this is described. The authors argue that this sort of group may be a more acceptable way to work on psychosocial issues than something more directly focused on mental health intervention. The group protocol is outlined along with suggestions for future work in this area. Originality/value This intervention represents a creative alternative to more mainstream psychological interventions for homeless or exiled men.

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Unexpected deaths of children and young people in the UK

BJPsych Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.bp.114.049825 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 68-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paul Stallard ◽

Michelle Maguire ◽

Justin Daddow ◽

Rosie Shepperd ◽

Mike Foster ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Young People ◽

Health Services ◽

Child Death ◽

National Data ◽

Children And Young People ◽

National Health Service Trust ◽

Incident Reports ◽

The Uk

Aims and methodTo review the deaths of children and young people who took their own life. We conducted a retrospective analysis of serious incident reports from a National Health Service trust and reviews by the child death overview panels of the local safeguarding children boards.ResultsWe identified 23 deaths, with annual rates varying considerably between local authorities and over time. Over half of the children (n = 13, 56%) were not known to specialist child and adolescent mental health services, with 11 having no contact with any agency at the time of their death. Hanging was the most common method (n = 20, 87%) and of these, half (n =11, 55%) were low-level hangings.Clinical implicationsTraining is required to improve awareness, recognition and the assessment of children at risk of taking their own life. Specialist child mental health services should directly assess plans or attempts at hanging and offer advice about the seriousness of attempting this. National data (by age) on children and young people who take their own life should be routinely published to inform clinical and preventive services.

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Exploring links between common mental health problems, alcohol/substance use and perpetration of intimate partner violence: A rapid ethnographic assessment with men in urban Kenya

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2017.25 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Schafer ◽

P. Koyiet

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Substance Use ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Marital Conflict ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

High Stress ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Psychosocial Issues

Introduction:Kenya has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the world, particularly intimate partner violence. World Vision completed a rapid ethnographic assessment to explore common problems faced by men and local perspectives about the links between men, mental health, alcohol use and GBV.Methods:Data from community free-listing surveys (n = 52), four focus group discussions and two key informant interviews formed the basis for thematic analysis and findings.Results:Lack of jobs, ‘idleness’ and finances were viewed as top priority concerns facing men; however, alcohol and substance use were equally prioritised. Family problems, crime and general psychosocial issues (e.g., high stress, low self-esteem) were also reported. Men withdrawing socially, changing behaviour and increasing alcohol consumption were described as signs that men were experiencing mental health challenges. The community observed alcohol use as the biggest cause of GBV, believing men resorted to drinking because of having ‘too much time’, marital conflict, psychosocial issues and access to alcohol. The findings theorise that a circular link between unemployment, alcohol and crime is likely contributing to familial, psychosocial and gender concerns, and that men's mental health support may assist to re-direct a trajectory for individuals at risk of perpetrating GBV.Conclusions:Data confirmed that GBV is a major concern in these Kenya communities and has direct links with alcohol use, which is subsequently linked to mental health and psychosocial problems. Attempting to disrupt progression to the perpetration of violence by men, via mental health care interventions, warrants further research.

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Characteristics of persons who die on their first suicide attempt: results from the National Violent Death Reporting System

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291719001375 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (8) ◽

pp. 1390-1397 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Joshua T. Jordan ◽

Dale E. McNiel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Law Enforcement ◽

Suicide Attempt ◽

Reporting System ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Medical Examiner ◽

Violent Death ◽

Legal Problem ◽

History Of ◽

Life Circumstances

AbstractBackgroundMuch of suicide research focuses on suicide attempt (SA) survivors. Given that more than half of the suicide decedent population dies on their first attempt, this means a significant proportion of the population that dies by suicide is overlooked in research. Little is known about persons who die by suicide on their first attempt–and characterizing this understudied population may improve efforts to identify more individuals at risk for suicide.MethodsData were derived from the National Violent Death Reporting System, from 2005 to 2013. Suicide cases were included if they were 18–89 years old, with a known circumstance leading to their death based on law enforcement and/or medical examiner reports. Decedents with and without a history of SA were compared on demographic, clinical, and suicide characteristics, and circumstances that contributed to their suicide.ResultsA total of 73 490 cases met criteria, and 57 920 (79%) died on their first SA. First attempt decedents were more likely to be male, married, African-American, and over 64. Demographic-adjusted models showed that first attempt decedents were more likely to use highly lethal methods, less likely to have a known mental health problem or to have disclosed their intent to others, and more likely to die in the context of physical health or criminal/legal problem.ConclusionsFirst attempt suicide decedents are demographically different from decedents with a history of SA, are more likely to use lethal methods and are more likely to die in the context of specific stressful life circumstances.

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Pregnant Victims of Intimate Partner Homicide in the National Violent Death Reporting System Database, 2003–2014: A Descriptive Analysis

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520943726 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052094372

Author(s):

Penelope K. Morrison ◽

Chelsea Pallatino ◽

Rachel A. Fusco ◽

Tanya Kenkre ◽

Judy Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

United States ◽

Reporting System ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

The United States ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Violent Death ◽

Intimate Partner Homicide ◽

Service Engagement ◽

History Of

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. However, very little information exists as to the circumstantial factors associated with IPH during pregnancy. We conducted a descriptive study of the demographic characteristics, psychosocial service engagement, and crises experiences (i.e., life and relationship stressors) among pregnant and nonpregnant victims to understand what differences, if any, exist in their risk profile for IPH. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) were used for this study. The NVDRS is a national opt-in tracking system of all violent deaths in the United States. Pregnant victims ( N = 293) were significantly more likely to be 5 years younger than nonpregnant victims, African American, and never married. Pregnant victims were more likely to be seen in the emergency room following the fatal incident. Nonpregnant victims ( N = 2,089) were significantly more likely to have suspected alcohol use at the time of their death. In strictly proportional terms, we also observed higher rates of mental health problems, a history of mental health treatment, and a reported history of intimate partner violence (IPV), crisis, or family problems among nonpregnant victims. A wider range of IPH-related risk factors (e.g. substance abuse) need to be included IPV assessments. Future studies should seek to develop effective interventions to prevent IPH, particularly among reproductive aged women.

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Psychosocial Issues Related to Genitourinary Injury

10.1093/med/9780190461508.003.0006 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Suzanne M. Waddingham

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Operation Iraqi Freedom ◽

Operation Enduring Freedom ◽

Treatment Intervention ◽

Psychosocial Issues ◽

Mental Health Providers ◽

Health Providers ◽

Psychosocial Impacts ◽

Iraqi Freedom

Given the incidence of genitourinary trauma in service members surviving severe injury in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, all health care and mental health providers attending this population need to have an awareness of the extent of injury, the physical and psychosocial impacts, and the resulting approaches to care. It is also important that clinicians are comfortable with assessment for issues relating to sexual health and intimacy, capable adequately addressing these issues, familiar with military culture as a component to these issues, and familiar with treatment, intervention, and resources available to this population for these very specific and critical needs.

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