PSY 262 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Prevention, Baby Boomers

• School: University of Hartford
• Department: Psychology - A&S
• Course: PSY 262
• Professor: Crowell Katherine

Document Summary

Suicide: suicide, he intentional, direct, and conscious taking of one s own life, has been extensively researched, risk factors and protective factors identified. Some deaths deemed accidental may have actually been suicides: choice of method, firearms, more than 50 percent of completed suicides, drug overdose. Increased in recent years for all age groups: especially among ages 45-59, older adolescents most frequently try hanging, jumping, and using firearms, occupational prevalence, higher than average suicide rates. Physicians: highest among psychiatrists; lowest among pediatricians, researchers speculate risk factors include burnout, stress, drug availability, and guilt over medical errors. Effect of ssris on suicide rates is still unresolved: medical professions should monitor suicidal ideation, suicide among college students, comprehensive study of suicidal ideation in students at over 70 colleges, more than 50 percent reported suicidal thoughts. 18 percent seriously considered attempting suicide: among those, 90-92 percent had a specific plan.