Suicide, Parasuicide, Assessment and Prevention

Course overview

Suicide is defined as the intentional taking of ones own life and comes from the Latin word suicidium, which means to kill oneself. Parasuicide, a form of attempted suicide, is an attempt to take ones life that does not end in death. Globally, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, with over 800 000 people dying each year by suicide. Suicide and parasuicide can occur at any point in the lifespan, and in some countries, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24 years. Rates of completed suicide are higher in men than women with men being up to four times more likely to kill themselves than women. According to the Center for Disease Control, male deaths represent about 79percent of all suicides in the United States of America, and firearms are the most lethal means of suicide, accounting for over 50percent of suicides in the US. However, the rates for non-fatal attempted suicide are four times more likely in women than men and are more common in young adults adolescents. Suicide attempts are influenced by a range of risk factors including the persons history (e.g. abuse victim, previous attempts, mental illness) and current mental state (e.g. depression), current external stresses (e.g. recent divorce, financial problems), access to the means of self-harm (e.g. firearms, poisons, medications), and the individuals access to protective factors such as family or peer support. The ability to recognize and effectively intervene with suicidal individuals is one of the most challenging aspects of public health intervention. This presentation is designed to increase awareness of suicide and to equip participants with information and skills to respond to a person considering suicide. Participants will gain a broader understanding of suicide as a national and worldwide issue.