Suicide, Recovery and Suicide Survivors
What is suicide?
Introduce the subject: The definition of suicide and the types which include: Suicide ideology, self-harm.
The Causes I: The statistics, who is at more risk and why.
Use Resource #1: Gustavo Turecki and David A. Brent. “Suicide and suicidal behavior”. www.thelancet.com, vol 387, 2015.
The Causes II: Medical, chemical imbalances and physiological.
Hormonal imbalances: decreased serotonin or increased dopamine
Genetic factors: Family history of mental illness and suicidal ideologies.
Physical Abnormalities: Abnormal structure of the brain or neurons
Trauma (emotional and physical): Blunt force to the head (frontal lobe mostly) or past traumatic experiences
Medications: Medications used for seizers are linked to suicide.
Young adults: Ages between 15 to 29 years old
Second leading cause of death by the age group
Individuals who suffered a history of behavioral issues or trauma
Females and people of high economy
Recovery process and the Five Stages
Recovery Process Using Research
Qualifications: Have attempted the last 12 months
Took place in the psychiatric unit in Taiwan
Results: Talking about the attempt aided with their recovery process.
The Five Stages
Set backs: there is lack of information [regarding] the healing and recovery process after a suicide attempt
Self-awareness: What just occurred
Inner-relatedness of life: The realization of what the outcome could have been, who would have been affected
Human emotions: Regret, guilt and anger may be emotions felt after an attempt.
Medical intervention Therapy and medications
Acceptance: Accepting the attempt and moving on from the event.
Use Resource #2:Mei-Ting Chi MSN, RN, Ann Long RGN, RMN, et al “Healing and recovering after a suicide attempt: a grounded theory study”
Suicide Survivors: More Battles After Surviving
Self-Stigma
Felling guilty or like a burden
Issues can only be dealt with independently
Rely on the false, constructed moral set by society
Believe the stigma to be the truth
Internal struggles
Society's stigma
Suicides are a cowardly way to pass
It's selfish to have a disorder
You only want attention
Don't have a family, you can pass down your 'sickness'
'Get over it'
Self-Empowerment
The 'yes I can' is needed to recover
Family and friend support, increases moral
Positive influences and ignoring the stigma improves mentality
Use Resource #3:Lindsay Sheehan, Nathalie Oexle et al “The Self-Stigma of Suicide Attempt Survivors”.