Resilience Wellness Program for Suicide Prevention: Implementing the VA Whole Health Paradigm

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Vitale ◽  
Lauren Byma ◽  
Evan Podolak ◽  
Zhaoyu Wang ◽  
Shengnan Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Integrative Health ◽  
Outpatient Program ◽  
Innovative Program ◽  
Measurement Based Care ◽  
The Us ◽  
Mental Health Programs

Suicide is a major public health problem in the US, specifically among Veterans. The Resilience and Wellness Center (RWC) is an innovative program focused on suicide prevention. The RWC targets vulnerable veterans by augmenting traditional treatments with complementary and integrative health interventions. One critical problem in suicide prevention is lack of engagement in traditional mental health programs, with stigma an oft-cited barrier. The RWC, an alternative paradigm, attempts to break through this barrier by addressing isolation through promoting group camaraderie and accountability, integral to the success of the program. This innovative program provides a unique opportunity to enhance life skills through Whole Health intervention, including: meditation, yoga, music therapy, exercise/dance etc. Specifically, the RWC is a four-week outpatient program, where admission is determined via hospital-wide consults. With a focus on Measurement Based Care, Veterans complete baseline and post-program assessments such as the Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and scales measuring: depression, hopelessness, sleep quality, and diet & nutrition. Data for 9 cohorts to date demonstrate significant improvements, with large treatment effects as evidenced by reduction in PHQ-9 totals and feelings of depression and hopelessness, especially for Veterans with histories of suicide attempts or ideation. Overall, Veterans found the RWC program experience favorable, with > 98% completing. The RWC can be rapidly deployed in the VHA by drawing on existing hospital services and clinics. According to participants, the RWC engages Veterans in building a partnership to pave the way towards a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle.

Substance Abuse and Drug-Related Death, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide: A Review

Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Mino ◽  
Arnaud Bousquet ◽  
Barbara Broers
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Hiv Epidemic

The high mortality rate among drug users, which is partly due to the HIV epidemic and partly due to drug-related accidental deaths and suicides, presents a major public health problem. Knowing more about prevalence, incidence, and risk factors is important for the development of rational preventive and therapeutic programs. This article attempts to give an overview of studies of the relations between substance abuse, suicidal ideation, suicide, and drug-related death. Research in this field is hampered by the absence of clear definitions, and results of studies are rarely comparable. There is, however, consensus about suicidal ideation being a risk factor for suicide attempts and suicide. Suicidal ideation is also a predictor of suicide, especially among drug users. It is correlated with an absence of family support, with the severity of the psychosocial dysfunctioning, and with multi-drug abuse, but also with requests for treatment. Every clinical examination of a drug user, not only of those who are depressed, should address the possible presence of suicidal ideation, as well as its intensity and duration.

scholarly journals Burns in Tehran: demographic, etiological, and clinical trends

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-245
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Bahar ◽  
Mohammadreza Pakyari ◽  
Rayeheh Bahar
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Burn Injuries ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Burn Patients ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Starting Point

Abstract Background: Burns are a major public health problem. They often require intensive care and long periods of hospitalization. In Tehran, about 5% of all hospitalized injuries are burns. There are no published long-term epidemiological studies regarding burn injuries of adults in Iran. Objective: To identify risk factors for burn injuries and provide a starting point for the establishment of an effective prevention plan. Methods: We analyzed the demographic, etiological, and clinical data of 1860 burn patients admitted to a major acute care hospital in Tehran between March 2010 and April 2011. Data were obtained from the registry recorded in Shahid Motahari Trauma Hospital and evaluated using a chi-square test. Results: Males were more than twice as likely to be burn patients than females (72.0% vs. 28.0%). Second and third-degree burns with a body surface area of 21%-30% constituted the highest injury reported (75.3%). The most common causes of the recorded burns were natural gas, gasoline (42%) and open fire (10.2%). Unintentional burns were reported in 85% of the cases, and 15% of the burn victims were suicide-related incidents; mainly among women. In 75% of suicide attempts, women set themselves on fire to commit suicide. The mean duration of hospitalization was 25 days and the mortality rate was 10.7%. Mean age of reported deaths was 38.6 years; with a mean of 30 years among women and 51.5 years among men. Conclusion: The group at highest risk was young men 21-30 years old. However, an astonishing finding was that 75% of suicidal-related incidents involved women setting themselves on fire. Those with the highest mortality rate were victims of burns with gas, gasoline, and kerosene; with a mean age of 30 years of death among women.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated with Suicidal Behaviour and Relationship with a Nurse-Led Suicide Prevention Programme

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 8765
Author(s):  
Judit Pons-Baños ◽  
David Ballester-Ferrando ◽  
Lola Riesco-Miranda ◽  
Santiago Escoté-Llobet ◽  
Jordi Jiménez-Nuño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Prevention Programme ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Completed Suicide

Suicidal behaviour is a major public health problem that needs to be tackled by all health agents including mental health nurses. Aims: The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics and different kinds of suicidal behaviour with a nurse-led suicide prevention programme. Methods: The design was a cross-sectional study, performed in the region of Osona (Catalonia) in the five-year period 2013–2017. Suicidal behaviour was classified as suicidal ideation, interrupted self-directed violence, suicide attempt or completed suicide. Results: The sample included 753 patients (of whom 53 completed suicide) who experienced 931 suicidal behaviour episodes. Men represented only 38.4% of the sample but 81.1% of completed suicides. Mental disorders were associated with suicidal behaviour in 75.4% of the sample. Two thirds (66.4%) of the individuals (0.8% (n = 4) of whom completed suicide) were participants in a nurse-led suicidal behaviour case management programme. Conclusion: The main risk factors were being a woman for suicidal behaviour and being a man and being older for completed suicide. Mental disorders, widowhood and retirement were also associated with completed suicide. The completed suicide rate was lower among participants in the nurse-led programme.

Trends in Suicidal Behaviors Among US Adults 2015–2018

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
R. Andrew Yockey ◽  
Keith King ◽  
Rebecca Vidourek
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Suicide Ideation ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The United States ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Suicidal Behaviors ◽  
Suicide Planning

Abstract. Background: Suicide remains a major public health problem in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in suicide ideation, planning, and attempts among a national sample of US adults. Method: We used aggregated 2015–2018 data from the National Survey Drug Use and Health Survey. We utilized demographic and substance use questions with each suicide behavior. We assessed weighted absolute and relative changes in a national sample of 7,654 adults. Results: Results revealed that from 2015 to 2018, there was a 16.0% increase in suicide ideation, 18.6% increase in suicide planning, and 11.6% increase in suicide attempts. Significant increases in each behavior were found in African Americans, younger adults, sexual minorities, and individuals who reported past-year drug use. Limitations: Limitations include self-report of suicidal behaviors and desirability of answers. Conclusion: We believe our findings can inform harm reduction efforts and health messages surrounding suicide prevention.

scholarly journals The use of telemedicine in the management of acute stroke

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. E4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark N. Rubin ◽  
Bart M. Demaerschalk
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Prevention ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Education Of Patients ◽  
The Us

Cerebrovascular disease, including acute ischemic stroke, remains a major public health problem in the US and throughout the world. There has been a concerted effort to apply evidence-based practices to stroke care to improve primary and secondary prevention as well as poststroke outcomes. Geography and workforce shortages contribute to a disparity in stroke care, however, among the substantial proportion of the US population that lives outside the reach of an acute stroke–ready hospital or a primary or comprehensive stroke center. In an attempt to combat the rural-to-urban disparity and expand the availability of best stroke practices, Levine and Gorman proposed the development of telemedical outreach for acute stroke evaluation and management, which they called “telestroke.” Since then, the practice of telestroke has been found to have a high interrater agreement with a bedside assessment of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, to enhance correct thrombolysis decision making as compared with telephone-only consultation, and to be cost-effective. In light of these findings and the perception of benefit by acute stroke providers and patients, there has been growing interest in and a rapid expansion of telestroke networks in the US and internationally. There are legal and financial barriers to more widespread use of telemedicine in general, including telestroke. Further research is needed to understand the potential merits of telestroke infrastructure for the many phases of stroke care including poststroke hospitalization, prevention of complications, enhancing secondary prevention, and education of patients and providers.

scholarly journals Exploring Lived Experiences of Adolescents Presenting with Self-Harm and Their Views about Suicide Prevention Strategies: A Qualitative Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4694
Author(s):  
Anum Naz ◽  
Amna Naureen ◽  
Tayyeba Kiran ◽  
Omair Husain ◽  
Ayesha Minhas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Self Harm

Suicide is a serious global public health problem and the third leading cause of death in those 15–35 years old. Self-harm is the major predictor of future suicide attempts and completed suicide yet remains poorly understood. There is limited evidence on effective interventions for adolescents who present with self-harm. To identify and develop acceptable preventive and therapeutic interventions it is essential to understand the factors that contribute to self-harm and suicide in young people, in the context of their emotions, interpersonal difficulties, available support and prevention strategies. This qualitative study aimed at exploring the lived experiences of adolescents presenting with self-harm and their views about potential prevention strategies. Semi-structured interviews with 16 adolescents (12–18 years) presenting with a self-harm episode in a public hospital in Pakistan. A topic guide was developed to facilitate the interviews. The following themes emerged using the framework analysis; predisposing factors (interpersonal conflicts, emotional crisis etc.), regret and realization that self-harm is not the only option, perceived impact of self-harm, and suggestions for suicide prevention strategies (sharing, distraction techniques, involvement of family). This study may help in refining a contextual and culturally based explanatory model of self-harm in adolescents and in informing development of culturally acceptable interventions.

scholarly journals Patient-Identified Priorities Leading to Attempted Suicide

Crisis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklaus Stulz ◽  
Urs Hepp ◽  
Dominic G. Gosoniu ◽  
Leticia Grize ◽  
Flavio Muheim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Attempt ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Interpersonal Conflict ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
Dsm Iv

Abstract. Background: Attempted suicide is a major public health problem. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify patient-identified problems and triggers typically leading to attempted suicide. Method: A representative sample of 66 adult patients was recruited from all clinical sites and psychiatrists who treat patients after attempted suicide in the Canton of Basel-City (Switzerland). Patients were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) and interviewed with a local adaptation of the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) to study underlying problems and triggers of attempted suicide. Results: Of the patients, 92.4% had at least one DSM-IV disorder, with depressive disorders being the most prevalent disorder. Although half (50.0%) of the patients identified a health problem, 71.2% identified an interpersonal conflict as underlying problem leading to the suicide attempt. Furthermore, an interpersonal conflict was identified as the trigger of the suicide attempt by more than half of the patients (54.5%). Limitations: The study included German-speaking patients only. Conclusion: According to patients, interpersonal problems often amplify underlying psychiatric problems, leading to suicide attempts. Social and interpersonal stressors should be acknowledged with integrated clinical and social interventions to prevent suicidal behavior in patients and populations.

scholarly journals Deliberate self-poisoning with drugs among adolescents in Morocco

2021 ◽  
Vol 319 ◽  
pp. 02004
Author(s):  
Sara Boukhorb ◽  
Fatine Hadrya ◽  
Latifa Amiar ◽  
Soumaia Hmimou ◽  
Abdelmajid Soulaymani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Poison Control ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Control Center ◽  
Epidemiological Profile

Introduction: Suicide is a serious public health problem and one of the leading causes of adolescent death in the world. The aim of this study is to determine the epidemiological profile of suicidal poisoning with drugs among adolescents in Morocco. Methods: This is a retrospective study of deliberate self-poisoning cases, reported to the Moroccan Poison Control Center between 1980 and 2014. Results: A total of 3,856 cases of suicidal poisoning among adolescents 15 to 19 years old were recorded, with 13 cases of successful suicide and 41 repeated suicide attempts. The average age of the patients was 15.5 years. According to the results, 84.7% were female with a female-male ratio of 5.5. The majority of cases occurred at home (97.8%). The signs and symptoms presented by the patients were varied, depending on the amount of drug ingested and the delay before treatment. Conclusion: Suicide and suicide attempts in children and adolescents continue to be a major public health problem, and topical research and surveys have clearly highlighted suicide as one of the commonest causes of death among young people.

Railway Suicide in Belgium 1998–2009

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Andriessen ◽  
Karolina Krysinska
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Railway Network ◽  
Railway Suicide

Background: Belgium is a country with a high suicide rate (19.1/100,000 in 2004), and railway suicide poses a substantial safety and public health problem. This problem was addressed by the Suicide Prevention Unit of Infrabel (Manager of the Belgian Railway Infrastructure), which collects relevant data and implements a prevention program. Aims: To present data on fatal and nonfatal suicidal behavior on the Belgian railway network, including monthly and regional distribution and identification of hotspots; and to present the Infrabel suicide prevention program. Methods: Analysis of Infrabel data on railway suicide (1998–2009) and comparison with data on suicide in Belgium. Results: A total of 1,092 railway suicides (1998–2009) and 557 suicide attempts (2003–2009) in Belgium (fatality rate of 54%) were studied. Monthly fluctuations were observed, with the majority of suicides occurring in Flanders, followed by Wallonia and Brussels. We identified 34 hotspots accounting for 35% of cases, mostly in Flanders. Conclusions: In 2004 railway suicide accounted for 5.3% of all suicides in Belgium (railway suicide rate of 1.03/100,000). Such a major human and economic loss warrants implementation of prevention measures. Infrabel has initiated a comprehensive suicide prevention program which focuses mainly on safeguarding the suicide hotspots.

scholarly journals Risk factors of suicide attempts by poisoning: review

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Cláudia da Cruz Pires ◽  
Tatiana de Paula Santana da Silva ◽  
Marcela Pires dos Passos ◽  
Everton Botelho Sougey ◽  
Othon Coelho Bastos Filho
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Suicide Attempted ◽  
Keywords Suicide

Introduction: Suicide, a complex and universal human phenomenon, is a major public health problem. This study reviewed the literature about the major risk factors associated with suicide attempts by poisoning. Methods: An integrative review of the literature was performed in databases (LILACS, PubMed and MEDLINE) to search for studies published between 2003 and 2013, using the following keywords: suicide, attempted; poisoning; risk factors. Inclusion criteria were: original study with abstract, sample of adults, and attempted suicide by poisoning in at least 50% of the study population. Results: Two hundred and nineteen studies were retrieved and read by two independent examiners, and 22 were included in the study. The main risk factors for suicide attempts by poisoning were female sex, age 15-40 years, single status, little education, unemployment, drug or alcohol abuse or addiction, psychiatric disorder and psychiatric treatment using antidepressants. Conclusion: Further prospective studies should be conducted to confirm these risk factors or identify others, and their findings should contribute to planning measures to prevent suicide attempts.

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