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Chennapragada L, Osterberg T, Strouse M, Sullivan SR, Silver C, LaMarca M, Boucher C, Fonseca E, Goodman M. A PRISMA Scoping Review to Explore Interventions to Prevent Firearm-Related Injury and Suicide in Older Adults. Clin Gerontol 2024; 47:519-535. [PMID: 38626064 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2024.2339366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This scoping review aims to examine existing research into firearm safety interventions designed to prevent firearm injury and suicide in older adults. METHODS Select databases were searched in 5/2023. Included articles involved an/a 1. aim to develop or investigate firearm safety interventions, 2. focus on adults 50 years and older, and 3. primary analysis. RESULTS The search yielded 10 articles which primarily focused on firearm safety counseling with older adults with suicide risk or emerging impairment. The review found that older adults may be open to receiving firearm safety counseling but that providers feel ill-equipped to have these conversations and to reliably identify suicide risk. Two studies presented promising data on the impact and acceptability of training providers in a firearm safety intervention. The review also identified the importance of building trust between older patients and providers to have helpful discussions regarding firearms, and highlighted specific approaches that facilitate openness to participate in these exchanges. CONCLUSIONS Further research into adapting interventions to meet the clinical needs of older adults and treatment efficacy trials is necessary. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Training healthcare providers to conduct firearm safety interventions with older adults may be an acceptable and impactful avenue to prevent suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Chennapragada
- VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Terra Osterberg
- VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Madison Strouse
- VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Sarah R Sullivan
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chana Silver
- VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Mary LaMarca
- Executive Division, National Center for PTSD Department of Veterans Affairs, White River Junction, Vermont, USA
| | - Caroline Boucher
- VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Emilia Fonseca
- VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Marianne Goodman
- VISN 2 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Ribeiro E, Granado A. Psychiatrists' Perceptions of the Role of Journalists in Suicide Reporting and Prejudices about Mental Illnesses in Portugal. J Community Health 2024:10.1007/s10900-024-01343-8. [PMID: 38413408 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-024-01343-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
International studies and the World Health Organization call for collaboration between media and mental health professionals to reduce the risk of imitative suicidal behaviour after suicide reporting - known as the Werther effect - and encourage individuals at risk to seek help. This study explores Portuguese psychiatrists' perceptions of the practices of journalists, their interaction with those professionals, and their perspectives on the national suicide coverage through an anonymous online questionnaire and ten semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire received 128 responses. Only about 24% of the Portuguese psychiatrists characterized their relationship with journalists as cooperative, and most of them considered suicide reporting to be sensationalist and irresponsible. More than 80% of the participants expressed the view that journalists do not know the guidelines for responsible suicide reporting, but more than 95% considered that they can contribute to suicide prevention. These findings suggest that there is a long way to go to build a constructive partnership for suicide prevention between psychiatrists and journalists in Portugal, focused on improving the quality of suicide reporting. We hope this study may inspire similar studies in other countries, since suicide is an international public health problem and collaboration between media and mental health professionals can help to prevent it on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eudora Ribeiro
- ICNOVA - Instituto de Comunicação da NOVA, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - António Granado
- ICNOVA - Instituto de Comunicação da NOVA, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Langford VM. Risk Factors for Suicide in Men. Nurs Clin North Am 2023; 58:513-524. [PMID: 37832996 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2023.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Suicide and the risk factors associated with it have been researched with increasing interest over the last 5 decades with respect to socioeconomic status, age, geographic location, and ethnic background. There has been less focus related to the risk factors specific to gender and how to incorporate clinical screening and interventions to reduce the mortality of suicide in males. With men accounting for a disproportionate number of deaths from suicide in the United States and worldwide, how gender could impact suicidal behavior and ideations remains a topic understudied and with great potential for significant improvement in clinical recognition and treatment.
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Choi NG, Marti CN, Choi BY. Firearm use risk factors and access restriction among suicide decedents age 75 and older who disclosed their suicidal intent. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1255519. [PMID: 38026395 PMCID: PMC10654963 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1255519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims A majority of older adult suicide decedents used firearms. In this study, we focused on suicide decedents age 75+ who disclosed their suicidal intent within a month of their injury/death to examine demographic and clinical characteristics associated with firearm use and firearm access restriction attempts by their family members. Methods The 2017-2019 U.S. National Violent Death Reporting System provided data (N = 1,734 suicidal intent disclosers; 1,476 males and 258 females; 21.4% of decedents age 75+). Generalized linear model (GLM) for a Poisson distribution with a log link was used to examine firearm use risk factors. Firearm access restriction attempts by decedents' family members were examined based on coroner/medical examiner and law enforcement (CME/LE) reports. Results Nearly three quarters of disclosers disclosed their intent to family members, and 82.9% of males and 27.5% of females used firearms. GLM results showed males, non-Hispanic white people, and residents in the South and West regions had higher likelihood of firearm use. CME/LE reports of 140 out of 1,294 firearm decedents included narratives related to firearm restriction attempts or lack thereof. Firearm access restrictions were not attempted in 65 cases because family members did not take suicidal intent disclosure seriously or because decedents promised no self-harm. Partial or complete removal of firearms in 75 cases were not effective as decedents had hidden a firearm or purchased a new one. Others used different lethal methods. Implications The findings indicate a need for: (a) training family members of older adults who are at risk of suicide in effective means safety/access restriction and strategies to prevent means substitution; (b) more comprehensive legislative reforms reducing access to firearms by those at risk of suicide; and (c) more comfort and palliative care and counseling for psychosocial risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namkee G. Choi
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - C. Nathan Marti
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Bryan Y. Choi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and BayHealth, Dover, DE, United States
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Mehmood M, Zaman NI. Translation and validation of Suicide Risk Scale for Medical Inpatient (SRMI) in Urdu Language. Pak J Med Sci 2023; 39:1798-1802. [PMID: 37936742 PMCID: PMC10626099 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.39.6.7000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To translate and validate the suicide risk scale for medical inpatients in the Urdu language. Methods A correlational study with non-random sample approach was conducted from February to May 2020, data was collected from various hospitals in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore. In the first phase, the suicide risk scale for medical inpatients was translated from the source language (English) to the target language (Urdu) via forward and backward translations. In the second phase, the Psychometric properties of the Urdu version were established. Exploratory factor analysis, reliability (Cronbach's alpha & split-half), and validity analysis (convergent and discriminant) were also computed. Results A total of 200 individuals with renal failure, with a mean age of 45.33 years (range; 18-80 years) were approached for the data collection. Exploratory factor analysis computed two factors. Cronbach's alpha value showed internal consistency and Pearson's moment correlation indicated association among similar variables (convergent validity) and less association among dissimilar study variables (discriminant validity). Conclusion The Urdu version of the suicide risk scale for medical inpatients was found to be a reliable and valid instrument for assessing suicide risk in medical inpatients in Pakistani culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mobeen Mehmood
- Mobeen Mehmood MS Scholar, Department of Professional Psychology, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Noshi Iram Zaman
- Dr. Noshi Iram Zaman Assistant Professor, Department of Professional Psychology, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Choi NG, Choi BY, Marti CN. Physical Health Problems as a Suicide Precipitant: Associations With Other Risk Factors and Suicide Methods in Three Age Groups of Older Decedents. Innov Aging 2023; 7:igad073. [PMID: 37554949 PMCID: PMC10406434 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igad073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Physical health problems are a significant late-life suicide precipitant. This study's purpose was to examine differences in (i) other suicide precipitants and psychiatric/substance use problems, and (ii) suicide methods (firearms, hanging/suffocation, and poisoning) in 3 age groups (55-64, 65-74, and 75+) of older suicide decedents who had physical health problems as a suicide precipitant. Research Design and Methods Data came from the 2017-2019 U.S. National Violent Death Reporting System (N = 34,912; 27,761 males [79.5%] and 7,151 females [20.5%]). Generalized linear models for a Poisson distribution with a log link were used to examine the study questions. Results Physical health problems were a suicide precipitant for 25.8%, 41.9%, and 57.7% of the 55-64, 65-74, and 75+ age groups, respectively, and were associated with a higher likelihood of having had depressed mood (IRR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.33-1.43) and other substance use problems (IRR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.13-1.31). Interaction effects showed that when job/finance/housing problems, depressed mood, or any psychiatric disorders were co-present with physical health problems, the age group differences in the predicted rates of physical health problems were diminished. Physical health problems were also positively associated with firearm and poisoning use, but negatively associated with hanging/suffocation. Interaction effects indicated that the predicted rates of firearm and poisoning use significantly increased among those aged 55-64 with than without physical health problems. Discussion and Implications In all 3 age groups of older suicide decedents, physical health problems were the predominant suicide precipitant, and those with physical health problems had elevated depressed mood. Assessment of suicide risk, affordable and accessible health, and mental health services, restriction of access to lethal suicide methods, and policy-based suicide prevention approaches for older adults with physical health problems are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namkee G Choi
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Bryan Y Choi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, BayHealth, Dover, Delware, USA
| | - C Nathan Marti
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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Amate-Fortes I, Guarnido-Rueda A, Martínez-Navarro D, Oliver-Márquez FJ. Social Isolation, Healthy Habits, Inequality and Mental Health in the United States. APPLIED RESEARCH IN QUALITY OF LIFE 2023; 18:1-27. [PMID: 37359221 PMCID: PMC9999329 DOI: 10.1007/s11482-023-10155-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this work is to deepen the analysis of the socioeconomic determinants of mental health, paying special attention to the impact of inequality, not only in income distribution but also in gender, racial, health and education inequality, social isolation, including new variables to measure loneliness, and healthy habits, on the mental health status. For this purpose, a cross-sectional model for a sample of 2735 counties in the United States is estimated using Ordinary Least Squares in its robust version to solve the detected heteroscedasticity problems. The results obtained show that inequality, social isolation and certain lifestyles, such as smoking or insomnia, are detrimental to mental health, while sexual activity prevents mental distress. On the other hand, poor counties suffer more cases of suicide, with food insecurity being the main problem for mental health. Finally, we found detrimental effects of pollution on mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Amate-Fortes
- Department of Economics and Business, University of Almeria, Carretera de Sacramento, s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - Almudena Guarnido-Rueda
- Department of Economics and Business, University of Almeria, Carretera de Sacramento, s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - Diego Martínez-Navarro
- Department of Economics and Business, University of Almeria, Carretera de Sacramento, s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Oliver-Márquez
- Department of Economics and Business, University of Almeria, Carretera de Sacramento, s/n, 04120 Almeria, Spain
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Graham C, Fenelon A. Health, Suicidal Thoughts, and the Life Course: How Worsening Health Emerges as a Determinant of Suicide Ideation in Early Adulthood. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 64:62-78. [PMID: 36632713 PMCID: PMC10009325 DOI: 10.1177/00221465221143768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Poor physical health places adults at greater risk for suicide ideation. However, the linkage between health and suicidal thoughts may emerge and become established during early adulthood, concomitant with other social processes underlying suicidality. Using nationally representative survey data from Waves III through V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 8,331), we examine the emergence of health as a predictor of suicide ideation across the early adult life course (ages 18-43). We find that worsening health does not significantly predict suicide ideation until young adults approach the transition into midlife. Our findings suggest this may be due to the increasing severity of health problems, reduced social network engagement, and disruption of social responsibilities later in early adulthood. Our findings underscore the need for social science research to examine the relationship between mental and physical health from a life course perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlyn Graham
- The Pennsylvania State University -
University Park Campus, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Fenelon
- The Pennsylvania State University -
University Park Campus, University Park, PA, USA
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Rucco D, Gentile G, Tambuzzi S, Fanton B, Calati R, Zoja R. Hospital inpatient suicides: A retrospective comparison between psychiatric and non-psychiatric inpatients in Milan healthcare facilities. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2023; 53:334-347. [PMID: 36748828 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Inpatient suicide in hospitals is a worrying phenomenon that has received little attention. This study retrospectively explored the socio-demographic, clinical, and suicide-related characteristics of hospital inpatient suicides in Milan, Italy, which were collected at the Institute of Forensic Medicine during a twenty-eight-year period (1993-2020). In particular, this study compared the features of hospital inpatient suicides in patients with and without psychiatric diagnoses. METHODS Data were collected through the historical archive, annual registers, and autopsy reports, in certified copies of the originals deposited with the prosecutors of the courts. RESULTS Considering the global sample, inpatients were mainly men (N = 128; 64.6%), with a mean age of 56.7 years (SD ± 19.8), of Italian nationality (N = 176; 88.9%), admitted to non-psychiatric wards (N = 132; 66.7%), with a single illness (N = 111; 56.1%), treated with psychotropic medications (N = 101; 51%), who used violent suicide methods (N = 177; 89.4%), died of organic injuries (N = 156; 78.8%), and outside the buildings (N = 114; 72.7%). Comparing psychiatric and non-psychiatric inpatients, suicide cases with a non-psychiatric diagnosis were predominantly men (N = 48; 76.2%), hospitalized in non-psychiatric wards (N = 62; 98.4%), assuming non-psychotropic drugs (N = 37; 58.7%), and died in outside hospital spaces (N = 54; 85.7%). CONCLUSIONS A fuller characterization of suicide among hospitalized inpatients requires systematic and computerized data gathering that provides for specific information. Indeed, this could be valuable for inpatient suicide prevention strategies as well as institutional policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Rucco
- Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Guendalina Gentile
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal Medicine and Insurance, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Tambuzzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal Medicine and Insurance, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Fanton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal Medicine and Insurance, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Calati
- Department of Psychology, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.,Department of Adult Psychiatry, Nimes University Hospital, Nimes, France
| | - Riccardo Zoja
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Section of Legal Medicine and Insurance, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Choi NG, Choi BY, Marti CN. Suicidal intent disclosure among adult suicide decedents: Four age group comparisons. DEATH STUDIES 2023; 47:861-872. [PMID: 36259484 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2135046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Research on who does/does not disclose suicidal intent (SI) and related factors has important implications for suicide risk management. In this paper based on the 2017-2019 National Violent Death Reporting System, we compared four age groups (18-24, 25-44, 45-64, and 65+ years) of suicide decedents with respect to associations between SI disclosure and (1) suicide contributing/precipitating factors, and (2) suicide means. The results shows that those age 18-44 were more likely to disclose SI than those age> =45, especially among those with relationship problems. Physical health problems and death/suicide of family/friend increased the likelihood of SI disclosure in the 65+ age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namkee G Choi
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Bryan Y Choi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and BayHealth, Dover, Delaware, USA
| | - C Nathan Marti
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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