Suicidal Behavior - Essay Example

Topic: Suicidal behavior Summary: This is a 3-page document on identification, intervention, and treatment techniques of person who exhibit signs of distress or who are at risk for future mental problems. Thesis If a person has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he feels dejected and comes to the conclusion that he is the only person suffering from Bipolar Disorder. Suicide is the most severe and common form of bipolar disorder. However, it should be noted that about 1% of the worlds population is thought to have some form of bipolar disorder, from mild to severe. Statistically, men and women are equally represented. In the United States alone, over 1.2% of the adult population (more than 2.2 million people) has bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depressive illness). Fortunately, very effective treatments are available to stabilize the person’s mood and help him regain and maintain a satisfying and productive life. Analysis: Suicidal behavior is indicated by a successful or unsuccessful attempt to kill oneself. It is a sign which shows that a person is going through mental disorder or is feeling desperate or hopeless. This mental disorder includes attempted suicide, suicide gestures, and death due to suicide. An attempted suicide is when there has been no death. Whereas in some cases, there has been suicidal attempts without any intention of it being fatal then it happens to be suicide gesture. This is method used by people who are going to mental turmoil to ask for help and intervention. However, there is a death then it becomes a complete suicide. All age groups and both sexes come under this bracket of suicidal behavior. Statistics in United States indicate that this mental disorder is considered as the second leading cause of death predominantly in adolescents and is one of the top 10 causes of death among adults. Also completed suicide is seen more commonly in men over 70 years whereas suicide attempts are seen to be more common in middle age. It is also seen that the suicidal attempts are 2-3 times more in women than in men. Sound and secure family ties and relationships like in the case of married people are less prone to suicide rate rather than single people whereas those are leading a lonely life like divorce, separation or death of a close relative have considerably higher rate of suicidal attempts or complete suicide. Suicide rates are higher in urban areas than in rural areas worldwide. Many suicides take place in prisons. Patients with depressive and manic-depressive illnesses are more likely to commit suicide than individuals in any other psychiatric or medical risk group. The mortality rate is higher than it is for most types of heart disease and many types of cancer. The symptoms are that it causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression. A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression. Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a persons usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. Usually suicide notes are left by those who have complete suicide which indicates cases like personal relationships and events that will follow the persons death. Notes left by older people often express concern for those left behind, whereas those of younger people may express annoyance or malice. The content of the note may indicate that the person had a mental health disorder that led to the suicidal act. Committing suicide needs immediate attention, preferably from a mental health professional or a physician. Anyone who talks about suicide should be taken seriously. Risk for suicide appears to be higher earlier in the course of the illness. Therefore, recognizing bipolar disorder early and learning how best to manage it may decrease the risk of death by suicide. Episodes of mania and depression typically recur across the life span. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of people have some residual symptoms. A small percentage of people experience chronic unremitting symptoms despite treatment. Suicidal behaviors usually result from the interaction of several factors, the most common of which is depression. As much as 50% of the attempted suicides are due to depression. [Hyman SE, Rudorfer MV, Federman DD 2006] Depressive illness often disrupts the normal functioning of a person and causes pain and suffering not only to those who have the problem, but also all those who are associated with him/her in various ways. Depression if not monitored and treated well can get aggravated and the patients can even become suicidal eventually killing themselves. However, a wide range of medication is available now as compared to earlier days, which help in arresting and treating the problem effectively. Depression is a serious medical condition. Unlike normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or mood swings, clinical depression is persistent and can interfere significantly with an individuals ability to function normally. There are three main types of depressive disorders: major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness). Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and worldwide. It affects an estimated 9.5 percent of adult Americans in the age group of 18 years and over in a given year, or about 18.8 million people in 1998. [Robins, Regier, 1990] Nearly twice as many women (12 percent) as men (7 percent) are affected by a depressive disorder every year. Most of them suffering from this problem do not want to believe that they are suffering from it and avoid seeking treatment, although the great majority, even in extreme cases, can be treated. Symptoms of depression include sadness, mood swings, loss of interest or pleasure in activities, change in appetite or weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, physical slowing or agitation, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. A person is diagnosed as having depressive disorder if he/she is suffering from any five or more of these symptoms. [Melissa Spearing 2006] There are various causes for depression. Some types of depression run in families, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can be inherited like in the case of bipolar disorder. Studies of families show that people with the illness have different genetic makeup than those who do not get ill. However, not everybody with the genetic makeup that causes vulnerability to bipolar disorder will have the illness. Additional factors like stresses at home, work, or school are involved in its onset. In some families, major depression also seems to occur generation after generation. However, it can also occur in people who have no family history of depression. Whether inherited or not, major depressive disorder is often associated with changes in brain structures or brain function. (Unknown, 2006) The choice of means of committing suicide vary based on factors like cultural factors, availability of things as well as the seriousness of the intention to commit suicide. Some common techniques used are jumping from high buildings indicate that the suicide is complete whereas overdose of drugs, slashing of the veins, self-poisoning can be either attempted suicide, suicide gestures or just complete suicide. Off-late overdose or self-poisoning has become the most common mode of suicide attempt whereas usage of violent modes like gunshot or hanging has become quite rare. In the case of complete suicide gunshot is still common especially among men in United States. In most cases of suicide attempts as well as complete suicide though it comes as complete shock to the family members usually signs of suicidal tendency is indicative much in advance. Usually suicidal gestures are shown which are more as an appeal for help. Such signs should be taken seriously and immediate intervention to be provides or it might eventually result in death. Counseling and medical assistance is a must as soon as signs or gestures of suicide are shown. Conclusion : Across United States, Many state and local health departments and other agencies are working towards developing community, regional, or statewide suicide prevention campaigns and plans to reduce the cases of suicide. However, this needs to be done in consultation of doctors and researches to work in tandem and avoid as well as reduce cases of suicide. Researchers have recognized the accomplishment of several different types of intervention plans to reduce suicidal behaviors like child abuse, drug, alcohol addiction or loneliness or turmoil in family relationships. Some of the most successful interventions have been parenting programs which help parents to understand their children and adolescents better as well as effective child-rearing skills. Apart from these, other interventions which have been quite successful are plans which help in managing social competency, conflict management, and coping skills. References : 1. Hyman SE, Rudorfer MV. Depressive and bipolar mood disorders. In: Dale DC, Federman DD, eds. Scientific American®; Medicine. Vol. 3. New York: Healtheon/WebMD Corp., 2000; Sect. 13, Subsect. II, p. 1. 2. Melissa Spearing of NIMH http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm with scientific information and review provided by NIMH Director Steven E. Hyman, M.D., and other NIMH staff members Matthew V. Rudorfer, M.D., and Jane L. Pearson, Ph.D. Editorial assistance was provided by Clarissa K. Wittenberg, Margaret Strock, and Lisa D. Alberts of NIMH 3. Robins LN, Regier DA (Eds). (1990). Psychiatric Disorders in America, The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, New York: The Free Press 4. Unknown, 2006 Website viewed on 8th December, 2006, Depression http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec07/ch101/ch101b.html Read More