Patterns of Suicide in the Context of COVID-19: Evidence From Three Australian States

Aims: We aimed to determine whether there has been a change in the number of suicides occurring in three Australian states overall, and in age and sex subgroups, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and to see if certain risk factors for suicide have become more prominent as likely underlying contributing factors for suicide.Method: Using real-time data from three state-based suicide registers, we ran multiple unadjusted and adjusted interrupted time series analyses to see if trends in monthly suicide counts changed after the pandemic began and whether there had been an increase in suicides where relationship breakdown, financial stressors, unemployment and homelessness were recorded.Results: Compared with the period before COVID-19, during the COVID-19 period there was no change in the number of suicides overall, or in any stratum-specific estimates except one. The exception was an increase in the number of young males who died by suicide in the COVID-19 period (adjusted RR 1.89 [95% CI 1.11–3.23]).The unadjusted analysis showed significant differences in suicide in the context of unemployment and relationship breakdown during the COVID-19 compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Analysis showed an increase in the number of suicides occurring in the context of unemployment in the COVID-19 period (unadjusted RR 1.53 [95% CI 1.18–1.96]). In contrast, there was a decrease in the number of suicides occurring in the context of relationship breakdown in the COVID-19 period (unadjusted RR 0.82 [95% CI 0.67–0.99]). However, no significant changes were identified when the models were adjusted for possible over-dispersion, seasonality and non-linear trend.Conclusion: Although our analysis found no evidence of an overall increase in suicides after the pandemic began, the picture is complex. The identified increase in suicide in young men indicates that the impact of the pandemic is likely unevenly distributed across populations. The increase in suicides in the context of unemployment reinforces the vital need for mitigation measures during COVID-19, and for ongoing monitoring of suicide as the pandemic continues.

Love Stinks: The Association between Body Odors and Romantic Relationship Commitment

Anecdotal reports indicate that women dislike their partner’s body odor (BO) during the breakdown of a relationship; however, whether disliking a partner’s BO is associated with intentions to break up has not been empirically tested. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate, for the first time, whether disliking one’s partner’s BOs is associated with experiencing lower commitment to a romantic relationship. Eighty participants (48 partnered, 32 single and previously partnered) completed self-report questionnaires about their current or previous romantic relationship and the amount of exposure to—and hedonic ratings of—their current or former partner’s BOs. Olfactory function was also tested, and participants smelled and rated various pieces of clothing imbued with a stranger’s BO. The results demonstrated that for participants who had experienced a breakup, historically higher levels of relationship commitment were associated with higher hedonic ratings of a previous partner’s BOs, regardless of the type of BOs. For participants currently in a relationship, lower relationship commitment was associated with higher breakup intentions in response to smelling their partner’s BOs. These preliminary results contribute evidence for the positive association between exposure to a partner’s BOs and favorable hedonic appraisals of BOs; however, further research needs to be conducted in this area to investigate nuances. Lower levels of exposure to one’s partner’s BOs may be more indicative of relationship commitment than exposure to hedonically unpleasant BOs of one’s partner. The findings are discussed with reference to their implications for interventions in relationship breakdown.

Grief: Aetiology, Symptoms and Management

Grief is a process provoked as a response to different losses, such as death, loss of job, relationship breakdown, some unexpected life events and changes, etc. The experiences of loss and bereavement are very individual. Even though loss is expected, the person feels traumatized, especially if death is provoked by violence, natural disasters, or war. This pandemic, like other disasters (wars, tsunami, earthquakes, floods, etc.) has provoked intensive reactions of grief, reactions that could persist for years. The core symptoms of grief are described in the ICD-11 and DSM-5 manuals. The term “complicated grief” in the medical sense refers to a superimposed process that alters grief and modifies its course for the worse. Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is characterized by normal grief symptoms, but these are symptoms that remain too intense for too long of a period. This article is a review of the manifestations and duration of grief in different occasions, and it is based on over 50 published papers, and discoveries in the Medline and Psych-Net databases. Commonly described reactions to grief are: shock, disbelief or denial, a high level of anxiety, distress, anger, sadness, insomnia, and a loss of appetite. As predictors for a high/slow decreasing trajectory of grief process are: female gender, reported symptoms of depression before the traumatic event, and higher scores on avoidance. However, grief is transient, even as we are is in the midst of its clutches. People should expect to fluctuate between moments of sadness and mourning, and moments of acceptance, or even happiness for being alive. Researchers suppose that when a crisis passes; most people will be able to bounce back and move on with their lives.

“Eventually, I Admitted, ‘I Cannot Do This Alone’”: Exploring Experiences of Suicidality and Help-Seeking Drivers Among Australian Men

While research has explored the intersection between masculinities and men’s experiences of suicidality, comparatively little attention has been paid to the stories surrounding suicidal men’s decision to seek help. The ways in which men experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors embody masculinities alongside their enlistment of mental health services remains largely unknown. The present study explored 262 Australian men’s stories surrounding the impetus for help-seeking for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The sample comprised men ranging in age from 17 to 74 years (M = 40.99; SD = 15.92 years), with most participants residing in a metropolitan area (55.3%), employed full time (43.1%), non-indigenous (95.4%) and heterosexual (73.7%). Participants elaborated on their reasons for help-seeking via an open-text qualitative survey, delivered as part of a larger study exploring help-seeking experiences of Australian men. Thematic analysis of responses generated four themes highlighting the diversity of experience across men, with some highlighting impacts of emasculating early trauma(s) on their suicidality, while others reflected an impulsiveness tied to situational stressors that fractured their masculine identity (e.g., relationship breakdown; job loss). Many men had epiphanies as they reached the limits of their self-reliance and came to terms with their need for help. As their suicidality was witnessed by—and began to impact—those around them, the sight of their previously masked pain by others often facilitated their help-seeking journey. The present findings underscore the complex and multifactorial role of masculinities in men’s suicidality and their paths to help-seeking. Important inroads for future public mental health promotion efforts are discussed, in terms of leveraging self-reliant and caring masculinities in helping men to develop healthy coping in the context of suicidality.

Social Determinants of Narcotics Use Susceptibility among School-Attending Adolescents in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Balanced medical and criminal justice approaches addressing determinants of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use are central to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 16. However, data on AOD use in resource-poor settings are characterised by relative paucity and anecdote. This study aimed to describe and analyse AOD use susceptibility and its determinants among school-attending adolescents in the capital Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Survey data were collected through a locally adapted Planet Youth questionnaire in June 2017 across 16 schools in Bissau. The 2039-strong sample was selected through a multi-stage, random cluster process. Participants’ lifetime alcohol use was 27.3%, smoking 10.8%, and cannabis use 3.6%. In each instance, the ‘15 years and above’ age bracket was the most common initiation period, signifying increased instigation in later adolescence. Subsequent Varimax Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of 312 variables captured data-driven models of AOD use susceptibility, implying imitated, polydrug use among initiates. Linear regression analysis revealed drinking, group violence, male gender, school dismissal and relationship breakdown as explanatory variables. Overlapping predictive variables suggest singular interventions may pre-empt myriad antisocial behaviours. PCA offers alternatives to singular, potentially myopic quantifications of drug use. PCA facilitates the creation of context-sensitive composite variables, enabling the identification of related outcome behaviours relevant to studies’ sociocultural settings.

Why Do We Lie? An Explanatory View for Lie-Telling Behaviors of University Students and Adults

It is known that studies are carried out in certain societies regarding the reasons for the occurrence of lie-telling behavior, which is one of the most important parts of human sociability. Nevertheless, studies on the reasons for lying of adults in Turkey appear to be insufficient. For this reason, the present study aimed to reveal the reasons for lying of adults in Turkey. A total of 75 people aging between 19 and 46 (Mage= 26.84) participated in this study. Participants were given a question form that had four open-ended questions prepared to reveal the reasons for self-benefiting and other-benefiting lying. The content analysis method, one of the qualitative analysis techniques, was used to analyze data. Findings showed that privacy, interference in autonomy, face-saving, fruition, avoiding a negative situation, hiding the truth and evading were the most common reasons for the self-benefiting lying. On the other hand, preventing harm, protecting others, making others happy, politeness, and preventing relationship breakdown were the most common reasons for the other-benefiting lying. Each reason for lying was discussed in comparison with the international literature and suggestions for future studies to be conducted in Turkey on this issue were presented. Keywords: Lie, deception, lie-telling behavior, reasons of lying, content analysis

5. Cohabitants and Remedies Not Dependent on Marriage

Marriage is not the only way that couples can live together. The term for living together without marriage or civil partnership is cohabiting. The numbers for people cohabiting rather than living in marriage or civil partnership is increasing. The acceptance of cohabitation across all age groups has risen also. Irrespective of the nature and duration of the cohabitation, there exist in the law a vast difference between the position of cohabitants and those of married couples when a relationship breaks down and in terms of law and legal rights. This chapter looks at what the differences are and what remedies are available to cohabiting partners who suffer a relationship breakdown. Unfortunately, the government appears to have no plans to reform this area of law.

Suicides in Barnsley – an IHBTT project

AimsWe wanted to see whether an increase in IHBTT(Intensive Home based treatment team) case load correlated with the recent increase in suicides. We also wanted to investigate the common factors between patients who died by suicide.BackgroundThis was a study completed by IHBTT in Barnsley (South Yorkshire), looking into recent suicides with the caseload from April 2009 to November 2019. There were a total of six suicides.MethodWe Calculated mean IHBTT caseload size from November 2008 to November 2019 . There were 6 suicides in this period. We plotted this against caseload, investigating if increase in caseload correlated with these. We also analysed the common themes and trends associates with these patients who died by suicide. We compared the trends we found locally against a National Survey. (National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health; Annual Report: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales October 2018 University of Manchester).ResultWe found that four out of six suicides occurred during periods of high activity.. Common themes we found around patients who had died by suicide included middle aged men who lived alone, with a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, recent financial stress and relationship breakdown, upcoming court case, abusing drugs or alcohol. This does compare somewhat to national trends, however alcohol and drug misuse, upcoming court case and financial stressors and relationship breakdown are higher in our patients who died by suicide compared to nationally.ConclusionWe acknowledge the small sample size and hence the need to take results cautiously. However there is a clear increase in suicides as caseload increases, we hypothesised this was due to the same levels of staff despite increase in caseload. We were also able to conclude the factors our patients who died by suicide had in common locally, and how this compared to national data. We wondered if this could be used to guide resource allocation, i.e. interventions to help patient manage their finances, accommodation and substance misuse. Consideration may need to be given to reviewing IHBTT staffing levels, given the significant decrease in inpatient bed numbers.

Aplikasi Tipologi Kepribadian Berbasis Web untuk Efektivitas Komunikasi

Communication is the process of sending and receiving messages that involve at least two people so that the message can be understood. The existence of effective communication results in a good relationship between the sender and recipient of the message. Meanwhile, miscommunication can lead to relationship breakdown. The way a person communicates is largely influenced by his personality. Communication is more effective by looking at his personality. Personality directly affects interpersonal communication and this communication affects organizational commitment. One way to find out a person's personality typology is to fill in personality observations based on the fields that have been determined by the expert. The purpose of this study is to develop a personality typology application that can be used to identify a person's personality typology. The existence of this application is expected to help realizing effective communication because someone knows the typology of his personality that can be used to communicate with his interlocutors. The software development method used is eXtreme Programming. This method was chosen because the resources to make the system were available, application development time was short, and programming was done by a small team. The making of this personality typology application can be used by someone to identify personality typologies that can produce choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic classification outputs. This application is created using the PHP programming language and MySQL Database Management System by displaying a list of 24 questions that must be filled in by the user. The application using black box testing, accuracy value is 100%. The existence of this application is expected to create a comfortable working atmosphere and create smooth communication with all parties. This has an impact on the effectiveness of communication so that it can reduce communication misunderstandings.