Suicidal Tendencies

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Suicidal Tendencies 1 Suicidal Tendencies College of Humanities and Social Sciences: Grand Canyon University PSY-570 - Psychopathology April 5, 2023

Suicidal Tendencies 1 Suicidal Tendencies Suicide is caused by a variety of causes, including psychological, environmental, and social stressors. Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders are all examples of psychological conditions with elevated suicide risks (Chesney, Goodwin, & Fazel, 2014). Furthermore, persistent physical ailments such as cancer, heart disease, or chronic pain have been linked to an increased risk of suicide. Traumatic events, substance misuse, access to fatal means, and chronic stressors can all operate as powerful triggers (Li et al., 2019). Isolation, prejudice, unemployment, and loss or conflict in relationships are all examples of social triggers. Understanding these triggers in depth is critical for effective suicide prevention and intervention. Cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT) can help you comprehend and work through the complicated thoughts and issues associated with suicide better. Suicide, according to CBT, is a behavior caused by incorrect cognitive processing, which is exacerbated by underlying mental health conditions, and results in emotions of hopelessness and excruciating agony (Wenzel & Beck, 2008). Over-generalization, catastrophizing, or dichotomous thinking can all be symptoms of distorted cognition, causing people to believe that suicide is the only solution. As a result, cognitive-behavioral therapies aim to reshape these cognitive distortions while also encouraging adaptive coping methods and boosting resilience. Suicide attitudes vary widely across society, especially when age is considered. Youth suicides are frequently seen as more tragic, as they reflect unrealized potential and unfulfilled lives and disturbs the natural order of life. External pressures, such as bullying, academic stress, or interpersonal problems, are frequently blamed (Bridge et al., 2015). Elder suicides, on the other hand, are frequently seen as a reaction to protracted pain, poor health, or loneliness.

Suicidal Tendencies 1 Society's attitude spans from sympathetic understanding to judgmental bias, which is exacerbated by stigmas associated with mental health. Treatment for people who are thinking about or have attempted suicide is varied. Immediate medical attention is required, followed by a mental health examination and treatment. A comprehensive treatment strategy would often include psychotherapy, such as CBT or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), as well as medication as needed (Hawton et al., 2013). Individuals are often at a higher risk following a suicide attempt, demanding proactive follow- ups and long-term treatment. Prevention programs strive to reduce risk factors while increasing protective variables at several levels. Community-level treatments include limiting access to lethal weapons, raising mental health awareness, and establishing crisis hotlines (Zalsman et al., 2016). School-based preventative programs emphasize coping skills development, resilience building, and early detection of distress signs. Furthermore, integrating mental health services into primary care, training non-specialized health workers, and encouraging help-seeking behavior are also important preventive measures. Factors that Trigger Suicide Suicide, a tragic end to many lives worldwide, remains a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It encompasses numerous aspects, such as triggers, societal perception, and the way psychological perspectives explain it. As the World Health Organization states, approximately 800,000 people die due to suicide annually, making it a significant global health concern (Suicide, 2021). This essay will delve into factors triggering suicide, a psychological

Suicidal Tendencies 1 perspective explaining it, societal views based on age, and treatment options including prevention programs. The factors contributing to suicide are multifarious, categorized broadly into psychological, environmental, and social triggers. Psychological factors predominantly involve mental health disorders. Major depressive disorder, for example, increases the risk of suicide significantly. According to a study by Bostwick, Pabbati, Geske, and McKean (2016), individuals with this condition have a 3.4% lifetime risk of suicide, almost 20 times the general population's risk. Additionally, other psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders are also associated with elevated suicide risk (Hawton, Casañas i Comabella, Haw, & Saunders, 2013). Chronic physical illnesses also play a significant role in triggering suicide. Evidence suggests that individuals with cancer, heart diseases, or chronic pain have an elevated risk of suicide, with the suicide risk being twice as high in those experiencing chronic pain compared to those without (Ilgen et al., 2013). Environmental factors, such as traumatic experiences and substance abuse, contribute substantially to suicide risk. Substance abuse disorders can amplify the risk of suicide by up to six times compared to the general population (Wilcox, Conner, & Caine, 2004). Access to lethal means is another crucial environmental factor. The availability of firearms, for instance, has been associated with increased suicide rates, suggesting that reducing access to these means can effectively prevent suicide (Anglemyer, Horvath, & Rutherford, 2014). Lastly, social triggers play a significant role in suicide. Feelings of isolation and loneliness, experiences of discrimination, unemployment, and relationship conflicts or losses have all been associated with suicide. Research indicates that unemployed individuals have a 2-3 times higher risk of suicide compared to those employed (Norström & Grönqvist, 2015). These

Suicidal Tendencies 1 social factors highlight the need for social support and economic stability as preventive strategies. Psychological Perspective Cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT) is one of several psychological views that can help you comprehend suicide. Suicide, according to this idea, is a conduct caused by incorrect cognitive processing, which is frequently exacerbated by underlying mental health conditions, culminating in emotions of hopelessness and excruciating agony (Wenzel & Beck, 2008). The cognitive triad—negative ideas about oneself, the world, and the future—is a key notion in cognitive-behavioral theory (Wenzel & Beck, 2008). Suicidal individuals frequently exhibit these negative cognitions, considering themselves as worthless, the environment as hostile or apathetic, and the future as dark and unchangeable. These distortions cause sentiments of hopelessness and despair, which are strong predictors of suicide ideation and attempts. Cognitive schemas, which are strongly held beliefs about oneself and the environment, are another important topic. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be exacerbated by maladaptive schemas, such as the notion that one is unlovable or that the world is intrinsically harmful (Johnson, Gooding, & Tarrier, 2008). Furthermore, suicide is viewed as an extreme coping method in CBT when individuals feel their psychological distress to be terrible and continuous. They may believe that suicide is the only way out of their pain, a cognitive error called “tunnel vision" (Johnson, Gooding, & Tarrier, 2008). Current evidence supports the use of CBT to understand and treat suicidal behavior. Cuijpers et al., (2014) discovered that cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly reduced suicidal

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