Topic 3 DQ 1
Please write a paragraph with your opinion based on the text bellow. Please include citations and references in case you need to used for the question:
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Between ages of 12 to 17 years suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States (Jarvis, 2015). Some contributing factors are mental disorders like “attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], behavioral or conduct problems, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorders” (Jarvis, 2015, p. 68). According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2017), other factors include: “family history of suicide attempts,” “exposure to violence,” “impulsivity,” “access to firearms,” “bullying,” “feeling of hopelessness or helpless,” and “acute loss or rejection” (p. 2). Some signs and symptoms observed in adolescent suicide are illicit drug, alcohol use, and cigarette dependence (Jarvis, 2015). Other signs are “changes in eating or sleeping habits,” “frequent or pervasive sadness,” “withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities,” “frequent complaints about physical symptoms often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue,” and “preoccupation with death and dying” (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2017, p. 2). Also many adolescents who are thinking about suicide would make indirect and direct statements. For example, an adolescent could make an indirect statement like “I wish would fall asleep forever.” A direct statement would be “I want to kill myself.”
Suicide is preventable. Primary prevention is reducing events that would lead to suicidal factors. For example promote positive relationship, events, and reduce negative societal conditions. Enhancing parent-child communication through parenting program would help with positive relationship (Caldwell, 2010). Second prevention “involves intervening early when risk factors for suicide have just emerged or are emerging to prevent the onset of suicide related [behavior]” (Caldwell, 2010, p. 4). One example is reducing the sigma around suicide, so adolescents are more likely to seek help. Another example is having timely access for crisis services in the community. Tertiary prevention is about “the care and treatment of those in whom suicide related [behaviors] have already occurred” (Caldwell, 2010, p. 4). For example, have individual and family counseling, provide trainings to primary healthcare provider so they can monitor the survivors, and build support groups.
There are some community and state resources that help with adolescent suicide. One of them is National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI). According to the NAMI’s webpage, “NAMI-NYS is the state organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness…[it is] for people with mental illness and their families. NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country.” NAMI has many different programs like suicide prevention, treatment and support, etc. This is the link to the webpage http://www.naminys.org/nys/about-us/. Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) is another community resource. MHANYS is a non-profit organization that wants to end the stigma against mental illness. This organization promotes mental health wellness in New York. MHANYS has established school mental health resources and training center to help schools provide instruction in mental health to all elementary, middle, and high school students. The link to the website is https://mhanys.org.
There are things nurses can do if they suspect a patient is thinking about suicide. The nurse can screen the patient for suicidal thoughts. First start with general questions and if the nurse receives affirmative answers then ask specific questions like “Have you ever felt that life is not worth living?” and “Have you ever felt so blue that you thought of hurting yourself?” (Jarvis, 2015, p. 73). Also, it is important to build a good rapport with patients, especially if a nurse suspect the patient is thinking about suicide. Building a good rapport with the patient will help the nurse get honest answers. Also, there is a higher chance of the patient listening to the patient.
Reference:
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2017). Suicide in Children and Teens. Retrieved July 30, 2018, from https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Teen-Suicide-010.aspx
Caldwell, D. (2008). The Suicide Prevention Continuum. Pimatisiwin, 6(2), 145–153.
Jarvis, C. (2015). Metal Status Assesmen. Physical Examination and Health Assessment. 7th ed. (pp. 67-87). [Elsevier version]. Retrieved from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com/#/books/978145572…
