Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts

Overview:

• Aids in understanding four general ‘patterns’ of suicidal thinking described as:
  • seeking help
  • long-term suffering
  • not coping with crisis
  • old and ready to die

• Informs on the obvious signs of potential suicide, using the ‘SUICIDAL’ acronym to identify risk factors
• Suicide in all age groups
• Provides methods for preventing suicide
• Includes a summary of what to do and avoid when helping a person who is potentially suicidal
• Consequences of suicide on helpers

Description:

Suicide is intentional, self-inflicted death. Suicide occurs in all age groups, including children, adolescents and the elderly - although it is more common among younger people and older people. This chapter discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts. The emphasis of the chapter is on prevention and the aims are to assist caring helpers to recognise situations in which suicide is more likely to occur and to provide practical advice on how to try to prevent it.

Topics:

• Patterns of suicidal thought
• Signs of potential suicide
• Suicide in age groups
• Strategies and techniques for prevention
• Effects of suicide on helpers

Speaker / Author:

Hugh Irons

Hugh Irons is a registered nurse who holds a master’s degree in community health nursing and qualifications in workplace assessment and training. Hugh works full-time in community-based mental health care with Ballarat Health Services - Psychiatric Services (Victoria, Australia). He has nearly 20 years of experience in this field, and also has substantial experience in teaching and coordinating undergraduate nursing students at the University of Ballarat, where he is a teaching fellow. Hugh is also a qualified relaxation massage therapist. He is a member of both the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nursing and is an associate member of the Australian Counselling Association. Hugh also runs his own consultancy in workplace and community mental-health behavioural training. In this role, Hugh conducts seminars, runs workplace in-service sessions, and facilitates conferences on a multitude of related topics.

Hugh’s motivation for writing this book springs from his conviction that all caring persons, with or without formal training, can have a significant therapeutic impact on the mental health and well-being of people who find themselves in distressing circumstances. Hugh relaxes with his wife of 35 years, Patricia and is interested in reading, walking and travelling. When travelling, Hugh makes a point of visiting mental-health services in any country that he visits -gathering and disseminating ideas of mutual benefit.

Professional Reviews: