BY FUNWELL NYANGA
SUICIDE
Hamweemba Christine, a 24-year-old, second year nursing student has just failed the second
attempt of the end of year exams. Upon receiving the results, she manifests signs and symptoms
of suicidal ideas.
a. Define suicide (5%)
i. Outline five (5%) predisposing factors of suicide (15%)
b. State five (5) signs and symptoms of an individual with suicidal ideas (15%)
c. Explain 4 types of suicide (35%)
d. Explain six (6) preventive measures of suicide (30%)
MARKING KEY
DEFINITION
Suicide: Refers to the act or an instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily or intentionally
PREDISPOSING FACTORS TO SUICIDE
Biological factors:-Suicidal behavior seems to run in families, suggesting that genetic and
biological factors play a role in one’s suicide risk.
Sociological factors
Suicide is more likely when a person lack social bonds or had relationships disrupted through a
sudden change in status, such as;
Unemployment, divorce.
Economic depression
Unemployment
Demotion
Expulsion from school
Drug abuse
Domestic violence
Psychiatric factors
uicide ideas are more common in people who are depressed. People with major mental illnesses
such as Schizophrenia and Mania are also at greater risk for suicidal attempt because of the
“commanding voices” or hallucinations that may be experienced in the course of the illness.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Having trouble in concentrating or thinking clearly.
Giving away belongings.
Talking about going away or the need to "get my affairs in order".
Suddenly changing behaviour, especially calmness after a period of anxiety.
Losing interest in activities that they used to enjoy.
Performing self-destructive behaviours, such as heavily drinking alcohol and using illegal
drugs.
Pulling away from friends or not wanting to go out.
Suddenly having trouble in school or work.
Talking about death or suicide, or even saying that they want to hurt themselves.
Talking about feeling hopeless or guilty.
Changing sleep or eating habits.
TYPES OF SUICIDE
Egoistic suicide: - Results from excessive individualism among individuals with few social ties.
An individual becomes detached from the values and expectations shared by society.
Altruistic suicide: - Individuals are highly integrated in their social group and an individual will
die for the common good of society because their personal needs do not seem important e.g. A
soldier dying for the good of a country.
Anomic suicide: -Is the result of a lack of meaning with one’s life. There is no clear definition of
norms and moral order and so there is little guidance on morality.
Fatalistic suicide: -Occurs as a result of excessive social restraints and so an individual will take
his/her own life as a means to freedom. An example is people that kill themselves before police
take them to jail because they avoid suffering more in jail.
MANAGEMENT OF SUICIDE
AIMS
To resuscitate the patient
patient.
To ensure patients medical safety
RESUSCITATING AND STABILIZING THE PATIENT.
f normal saline and insert nasal-gastric tube and do gastric lavage depending on substance used.
Give Lasix injection and insert catheter and maintain input and output balance using a fluid balance
chart.
ENVIRONMENT
Remove from the environment any item that the patient may use to kill him /herself in order to
provide safety of the patient. The patient should not be left alone, so it is important to involve the
family members in the care of patient to provide safety.
MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION
The nurse should collect observational data about the patient's mental status. Was he able to spell
his name when first asked? Did she remember the day of the week? Does she know where she is?
Who brought him to the hospital/clinic? The goal is to gain insight into the patient's mental status,
including any indication that the patient is delusional, psychotic, or substance impaired.
OBSERVATIONS
Check vital signs of temperature, pulse, respirations and blood pressure to rule out any deviation
from normal. The patient should be nursed near the nurse’s bay for close monitoring.
SOCIAL SKILL TRAINING
Clients maybe isolated from others for various reasons, accompany client to group activities,
beginning with less threatening ones and gradually incorporate more informal spontaneous
activities to preserve self-esteem.
REST AND SLEEP
Provide a quiet environment to promote rest.
BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT
This method include social skills training, using positive and negative reinforcement to change
behavior. Behavior therapy is based on learning theory which postulates that problem behaviors.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
Find the cause of some-one attempting suicide
Find out from the person involved how they can solve the problem
Don’t castigate children or individuals who have done something e.g. failing an exam, getting
unwanted pregnancy
Solve issues as they come
Respect people`s views
Accepting and tolerating one another
Counsel the individual on social, spiritual, economical and physical issues
Share individual burdens or problems with another person
Avoid isolations
Avoid drug abuse and severe alcohol intake
BY FUNWELL NYANGA
0970263420 OR 0761411515
