Transcript Suicidal Theories

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May be influenced by:
◦ The accessibility and availability of the means
◦ The user’s knowledge, experience, and familiarity
with the means
◦ The meaning, symbolism, and cultural significance
of the means
◦ Suggestion, contagion, or modeling factors
◦ The potential suicide’s state of mind
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Generally grouped into eight major categories:
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Firearms and explosives
Hanging
Submersion
Jumping
Cutting
Drugs
Ingestion of solids or liquids
Gases and vapors
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What is the first method of choice for men?
◦ Firearms
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Women?
◦ Firearms
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(38.5%)
What about the second method of choice?
Men
◦ Hanging
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(63.5%)
(16.6%)
Women
◦ Drugs/Meds
(24.0%)
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Total suicide rates showed significant statistical
association to gun prevalence for almost all
demographic groups (Markush and Bartolucci, 1984).
A significant negative correlation between the
strictness of state gun control laws and state
suicide rates (Lester and Murrell, 1980).
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2nd most frequent method of suicide in the
U.S. and is more common worldwide
Death is due to the compression of the neck
which either obstructs the blood flow in the
arteries, blocks the windpipe, or causes
cardiac arrest.
Process takes around 4-5 minutes
Very common in prisons
TCAs taken in doses over 2 grams will
produce severe consequences (convulsion,
coma, shock, respiratory shutdown).
 Some drugs have high risk of fatality when
used with alcohol (MAOI).
 Illicit drug users have high rates of death by
suicide
 Over-the-counter drugs that are typically
used include salicylates and acetaminophen.
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Jumps greater than 3 stories are generally fatal
◦ 4/11 people survived from 4 story jumps
◦ 1/10 survived from 6 story jumps
◦ Survival rate for Golden Gate Bridge is 2%
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Suicide through carbon monoxide (CO)
asphyxiation generally occurs through a car’s
exhaust or by home heating gas
CO binds with hemoglobin in the blood
forcing out the oxygen from the cells
Person can become unconscious immediately
or within minutes
Presumed to be a painless method of suicide
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Uncommon method for completed suicide
Common sites include the neck, wrists, or
chest
Tends to be painful and is does not lead to a
quick death
Tends to be more common in women than
men
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Difficult to determine how a body ended up in
the water
Majority of death by drowning are accidents
(10:1)
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Benefits
◦ Get attention from family, friends, and professionals
◦ Suspension of ordinary responsibilities
◦ Short-term elevation of affect
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Costs
◦ Stigmatizing
◦ People may get angry with the attempter
 Attempts may inconvenience or manipulate others
◦ Attempter may use suicide attempts to cope with stress
and life events
◦ Subsequent attempts may use more lethal methods
◦ Suicide attempters incur costs
Direct Costs
Indirect Costs
Total Costs
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Attempted Suicide
$5,310
$27,979
$33,289
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Suicide
$2,098
$394,968
$397,066