scholarly journals Place, the Built Environment, and Means Restriction in Suicide Prevention

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (22) ◽  
pp. 4389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel J. Pollock
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Lethal Means ◽  
Resolution Data

Restricting access to lethal means is a key public health intervention for preventing suicide. Means restriction research has often focused on suicide methods that are modifiable through legislation or policy interventions. However, some of the most common methods such as hanging may not be sensitive to regulation. The aims of this paper are to examine built environment and place-based approaches to means restriction in suicide prevention, and further consider the connections between place, the environment, and suicide methods. To increase knowledge about specific methods and mechanisms of injury in suicide deaths, higher resolution data for surveillance and epidemiology is required. Data that can be used to better discern patterns about specific locations and materials used in suicide and self-harm will support efforts to uncover new directions for prevention.

The role of restricting access to potentially lethal medication in suicide prevention

2021 ◽  
pp. 709-712
Author(s):  
Cyril Höschl ◽  
Pavla Čermáková
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Lethal Means

Overdose with medications is a common method of suicide. Reviews of suicide prevention strategies confirmed that restricting access to lethal means is effective in preventing suicides. Nevertheless, there have not been any randomized controlled trials, proving that restriction of the access to toxic medications decreases suicide rates. Existing evidence is based mainly on observational, ecological, and cohort studies. Factors such as better mental health conditions, effective treatment of depression, and improvement in socioeconomic status, may also contribute to decreasing suicide rates. Restrictive measures will have a large effect if the respective method is frequent and lethal. Although there are some concerns about substitution of suicide methods if access to a specific drug is restricted, many studies suggest a life-saving potential. Restrictive measures represent an effective and feasible public health strategy for suicide prevention, particularly in individuals that carry out briefly planned impulsive acts, and in combination with other interventions.

Apparent Higher Brain Weight in Suicide Victims: Possible Reasons

2002 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 236-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jože Balažic ◽  
Andrej Marušič
Keyword(s):  
Postmortem Examination ◽  
Brain Weight ◽  
The Other ◽  
Emotional Information ◽  
Partial Explanation ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
The Brain

In 2000 we tested previously reported findings by Salib and Tadros that brain weight of fatal self-harm victims is higher than of those who died of natural causes. Our results were based on data from 15 suicides and 15 deaths of other causes. Data included matching variables of age, sex, time between death and postmortem examination, and temperature of the surrounding environment. The exploratory variables were brain weight and method of death. No significant difference was found between the brain weights of suicides and others. On the other hand, some differences were obtained for different suicide methods, which also differed in the temperature of the environment, this being lower for the group of suicides that occurred outdoors (around or below 0°C). Once we excluded all the outdoor cases and controls, a significantly higher brain weight was obtained for suicide cases. These and previous results are intriguing and require explanation. Respirator brain syndrome as described by Moseley, Molinari, and Walker in 1976 may provide only a partial explanation. Another possible suggestion is that higher brain weight in suicide victims may be related to previously demonstrated increased amygdala blood flow and subsequent amygdala enlargement due to the increased processing of emotional information.

Implementation and outcomes of suicide-prevention strategies by restricting access to lethal suicide methods in Korea

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haesoo Kim ◽  
Se Won Kwon ◽  
Yong Min Ahn ◽  
Hong Jin Jeon ◽  
Subin Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Suicide Methods

scholarly journals Self-harm and suicidal behaviour in Ghana: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e053144
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie ◽  
Kwaku Oppong Asante ◽  
Johnny Andoh-Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Prevalence Estimates ◽  
Self Harm

IntroductionSelf-harm and suicidal behaviour represent major global health problems, which account for significant proportions of the disease burden in low-income and middle-income countries, including Ghana. This review aims to synthesise the available and accessible evidence on prevalence estimates, correlates, risk and protective factors, the commonly reported methods and reasons for self-harm and suicidal behaviour in Ghana.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a systematic review reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (2009) recommendations. Regional and global electronic databases (African Journals OnLine, African Index Medicus, APA PsycINFO, Global Health, MEDLINE and PubMed) will be searched systematically up to December 2021 for observational studies and qualitative studies that have reported prevalence estimates, correlates, risk and protective factors, methods and reasons for self-harm and suicidal behaviour in Ghana. The electronic database searches will be supplemented with reference harvesting and grey literature searching in Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global for postgraduate dissertations. Only records in English will be included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (2018) will be used to assess the methodological quality of included studies. Meta-analysis or narrative synthesis or both will be used, contingent on the extent of heterogeneity across eligible observational studies.Ethics and disseminationConsidering that this is a systematic review of accessible and available literature, we will not seek ethical approval. On completion, this review will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, be disseminated publicly at (mental) health conferences with focus on self-harm and suicide prevention. The important findings would also be shared with key national stakeholder groups in Ghana: Ghana Association for Suicide Prevention, Ghana Mental Health Authority, Ghana Psychological Association, Centre for Suicide and Violence Research, Accra and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health.Prospero registration numberCRD42021234622.

Suicide Prevention in New South Wales Correctional Centres

Crisis ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Eyland ◽  
Simon Corben ◽  
Jenny Barton
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
The Self ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Self Harm ◽  
Incarcerated Population

The New South Wales Department of Corrective Services has introduced a number of suicide prevention measures in order to deal with the problem of inmate suicides. This article describes the measures. The article also shows that the characteristics of the incarcerated population differ greatly from those in the community. Findings from the self-harm database 1991-1995 show that, nevertheless, there are some unique characteristics of the group of self-harmers and fatal self-harmers. These findings are discussed in relation to the preventive measures that are introduced in the NSW correctional centers.

Limiting psychotropic medication prescription on discharge from psychiatric inpatient care: a possible suicide intervention?

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-47
Author(s):  
Eimear Cleary ◽  
Cecily C. Kelleher ◽  
Abbie Lane ◽  
Kevin M. Malone
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Psychotropic Medication ◽  
Psychiatric Care ◽  
Psychiatric Inpatient ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Prescription Data ◽  
Prescribing Practices ◽  
Inpatient Psychiatric Care ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Lethal Means

ObjectivesRestricting access to lethal means is an effective suicide prevention strategy. However, there is little discussion in the literature about the potential contribution of prescribing practices on discharge from inpatient psychiatric care (which has been established as a high-risk period for suicide) to suicide deaths by overdose of prescribed medication. This study aimed to assess the quantity, toxicity and potential lethality of psychotropic medication being prescribed on discharge from psychiatric care to those with and without indices of suicidality.MethodsPatient demographic, clinical and prescription data were collected from 50 randomly selected charts following discharge from inpatient psychiatric care. Psychotropic medications (dose × duration) on discharge were converted to their equivalent doses of neuroleptics, antidepressants and anxiolytics to rate toxicity and potential lethality, using the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines. Mood stabilizing medications were also documented.Results39% of prescriptions analysed contained toxic and potentially fatal doses of either neuroleptic or antidepressant equivalent medication.ConclusionsPatient discharge from inpatient psychiatric care presents a golden opportunity to moderate access to potentially fatal psychotropic medication. Iatrogenic provision of lethal means for suicide during a period of increased risk and in a group at increased suicide risk may impact suicide prevention efforts and requires further in-depth research. Current prescribing practices may be a missed opportunity to intervene in this regard.

Gender Differences in the Lethality of Suicide Methods and Their Relation to Suicide Rates

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Cibis ◽  
A. Bramesfeld ◽  
R. Mergl ◽  
D. Althaus ◽  
G. Niklewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Male Suicide ◽  
Male Female Ratio ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Gender Specific

Aims:For developing suicide prevention interventions, epidemiologic, socio-economic and demographic factors influencing suicide rates are of high interest. One considerable factor in this respect is gender, as in most countries male suicide rates are much higher than female suicide rates with a global average male/female ratio of 3.6:1. The present study seeks to contribute to the clarification of the question what underlies the different suicide rates of men and women by analyzing gender-specific lethality of suicide methods.Method:Data on completed (fatal) and attempted (non-fatal) suicides from 2000 to 2004 were collected in two cities in the region of Bavaria, Germany. This data sample offers the opportunity to compare data of suicidal acts including completed as well as attempted suicides of the same region during the same time. The lethality for each suicide method was estimated by dividing the number of fatal episodes by the total episodes and then related to gender and age.Results:Lethality per method was higher for men than for women; significant differences could be shown for the majority of methods. Regarding age, lethality rising with age could be shown. Still, in higher age groups, differences in lethality between men and women were significant.Conclusion:Results stress the importance of gender-specific suicide prevention. Male-specific suicide-prevention should be concerned with improving access to and treatment of men under risk for suicidal behaviour. Addressing the problem through multifaceted programs therefore is a promising approach.

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