CPP2093 suicide awareness

Question 1

what is the male: female ratio of suicide mortality?

Answer 1

75% = men
25% = women

Question 2

what age group is the highest suicide risk?

Answer 2

45-50yrs old

Question 3

give some examples of risk factors for suicide

Answer 3

• young and middle aged men
• chronic pain
• single/divorced/widowed
• living alone
• mental illness
• past self-harm
• access to means
• low income
• industrial towns/hard jobs
• big change in life
• isolation / lack of friends/ social groups

Question 4

what language to avoid when talking about suicide?

Answer 4

• committed suicide = died by suicide
• made a successful suicide attempt = he attempted suicide
• hot spot or suicide epidemic = don’t draw attention to areas with high rates

Question 5

what to do if someone you are talking to seems suicidal?

Answer 5

• offer to allow them to open up to you
• make them not feel alone / normalise it
• tell them about resources
• offer to help them e.g. with small daily tasks/ refer them to help
• as a doctor don’t guarantee confidentiality = if they are at risk of harm or to others you have to report