...This paper looks at how depression continues to be one of most common medical conditions for the elderly. It also examines the increase in the suicidal tendencies of the depressed, taking into account the wrong assumption that aging necessitates depression and the difficulty of health care providers in recognizing depression. It examines how symptoms may take months to worsen and show up and how aging individuals should be treated similarly to younger patients when seen by the doctor. It is up to family and health care providers to be vigilant and notice changes, and with care, individuals can be helped. Some of these symptoms include depressed mood, loss of interest in work and activities, psychic anxiety, somatic symptoms, general (decreased energy), somatic anxiety, guilt, middle insomnia, late insomnia, and suicidal ideation. Literature into the issue of depression and the suicide rate where elderly people are concerned is important for several reasons. Consider these facts: The highest rate of suicide in the United States is among the elderly population. Moreover, suicide rates steadily increase as age advances in individuals of all races and both genders. Those that are 65 years and older successfully complete suicide fifty percent more often than the national average. Every 90 minutes a senior citizen in the United States commits suicide. Population experts estimate that by 2030, the elderly population will be about 20% of the population-about 75 million people (Heisel...
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...Group Project – Final Draft Multiple Sclerosis – The Physical and Behavioral Effects Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, or Demyelinating disease; a disease that not many are aware of. It is “an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).” (A.D.A.M. Inc, 2011) The symptoms vary depending on the individual affected by the disease, and it also differs in duration for each symptom. In this paper, we will discuss the definition of Multiple Sclerosis, review the main symptoms affecting Multiple Sclerosis patients and their loved ones, its risk factors, how to recognize potential symptoms, the tests available, and support groups that can provide more information on this disease as well as how to cope with it. Depression is one of the main side effects Multiple Sclerosis patients have; it is unfortunately very common for someone with Multiple Sclerosis to experience depression. To learn more about the disease, we have to understand what MS is. Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is an auto-immune disease that affects your brain’s nervous system; the “T-Cells” attack your neurons which function is to send signals to your brain. Each nerve cell control different parts of your body and emotions; having the T-cells attacking your emotional nerves can impact your way of living. If these T-cells damage the nerves of the brain that are involved in emotional expression and control; it can create a variety of behavioral changes resulting in depression...
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...Definitions to the problem of suicide are important in order to gather more evidence based data and prevent occurrences. Self-harm is when a person deliberately does a behavior such as cutting with the intention of harming his or herself (Moran et al., 2012, p.236). Suicidal ideation is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “thinking about, considering, or planning for suicide” (CDC, 2013). One of the goals of research on suicidal ideation is to identify those who actually will attempt a suicide because of this ideation (Holliday, 2012, p.6).. Suicide attempt is defined as a self directed harmful behavior that does not end in death but is performed with an intent to die; whereas the term suicide or completed suicide...
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...General Practitioner Paper SWK 6370 10/3/2014 | Assessment (Hepworth, 2013, p. 192-193) Client is Ms. Juana Hernandez, though Will County Health Department, made referral to Joliet Area Community Hospice- it increasingly hard to cope with her 9 year old son’s death. As the anniversary of his death comes near, client has thoughts of suicide and finds it unbearable to face the fact that her son is dead. Ms. Hernandez is 38, single mom, and has two daughters, ages 5 and 8. She lives in a two bedroom apartment. * Ms. Hernandez is currently facing legal problems for driving on a suspended license. Client drives to and from appointments; thus raising concerns. Client is currently being treated for suicidal thoughts related to her son’s death. She reports that she’s taking all prescribed medications and has no thoughts of hurting herself and/or others. * Ms. Hernandez also expresses concerns for her other two daughters in the household. The girls are 5 and 8 years old. Recently her daughter (5 year old) had been playing in her room unattended and somehow managed to fall from the second floor window. The daughter told her mother that her deceased brother told her to play with him. The client acknowledges that she and her 5 year old daughter are being medically treated for Bipolar Disorder. Client has also been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. * She was sexually assaulted as a teenager and has not sought counseling to cope with the effects of the assault. Client appears...
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...Topics that I would include are: depression/suicidal ideations, sex-role identification, and developing a sense of identification. Early adolescents go through a stage where they are trying to figure out who they are. Additionally, they are influenced by their environment and some of these influences may not have a positive impact on the adolescent. During this transitional stage in life, mental health associated hormones are difficult to identify. There is a rise in hormones which plays an important role in the emotional state. The emotional state of an adolescent is very unpredictable, one minute they are depressed/withdrawn and the next minute that are happy and enjoyable. These mood swings begin to level out as they go from early...
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...Specific Aims Despite the years of suicidal research, there has not been a significant decrease in adolescent suicidality (suicidal ideations and behavior) in the last 50 years. Suicide continues to be the second leading cause of death among 10 to 24-year old?s globally with many more adolescents contemplating and attempting suicide (World Health Organization, 2010). The slow progress of knowledge generated in the study of suicidality may be related to the fragmented approach taken to investigate what puts an individual at risk (Stewart, et al., 2017). Research has identified multiple suicidal risk factors such as psychopathology, suicidal ideations, stressful life events, poor academic performance, and low familial and social support....
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...Cyber and Traditional Bullying Victimization as a Risk Factor for Mental Health Problems and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents Rienke Bannink1, Suzanne Broeren1, Petra M. van de Looij – Jansen2, Frouwkje G. de Waart2, Hein Raat1* 1 Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 2 Municipal Public Health Service Rotterdam area, Rotterdam, the Netherlands Abstract Purpose: To examine whether traditional and cyber bullying victimization were associated with adolescent’s mental health problems and suicidal ideation at two-year follow-up. Gender differences were explored to determine whether bullying affects boys and girls differently. Methods: A two-year longitudinal study was conducted among first-year secondary school students (N = 3181). Traditional and cyber bullying victimization were assessed at baseline, whereas mental health status and suicidal ideation were assessed at baseline and follow-up by means of self-report questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between these variables while controlling for baseline problems. Additionally, we tested whether gender differences in mental health and suicidal ideation were present for the two types of bullying. Results: There was a significant interaction between gender and traditional bullying victimization and between gender and cyber bullying victimization on mental health problems. Among boys, traditional and cyber bullying victimization...
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...definitely concerned with how their image is portrayed to the public, so they deal with the matters of suicide and suicidal ideation in-house. As a result, this in-house measure may not be as effective as an external measure and fail to help the officer properly. Thereafter, by dealing with the matter internally, this may be construed as hiding and minimizing...
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...minority youth have higher suicidal ideations and suicide attempt rates compared to heterosexual youth. Furthermore, a study conducted by Stephen Russell and Kara Joyner showed that sexual minority females were likely to have more frequent suicidal ideations and attempts than sexual minority males (13). Additionally, this study found a strong correlation between sexual orientation and alcohol abuse and depression. This study established that suicidal thoughts and attempts were significantly greater for sexual minority youth who were facing depression or had a substance abuse problem, stating, “suggesting that for gay and lesbian youths who are concealing their sexual identities, alcohol may be used to...
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...SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDE REFERENCE MANUAL INTRODUCTION The Suicide Risk Assessment Pocket Card was developed to assist clinicians in all areas but especially in primary care and the emergency room/triage area to make an assessment and care decisions regarding patients who present with suicidal ideation or provide reason to believe that there is cause for concern. This reference guide provides more specific information and the rationale for the sections on the pocket card. The sections of the guide correspond with the sections of the card. The Reference Guide may also be used as a teaching aid for new providers, residents and students at all levels and disciplines as well as other caregivers. This introduction provides general information regarding the nature and prevalence of suicidal behaviors and factors associated with increased risk for suicide and suicide attempts. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (including suicide attempts and death by suicide) are commonly found at increased rates among individuals with psychiatric disorders, especially major depressive disorder, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, PTSD, anxiety, chemical dependency, and personality disorders (e.g., antisocial and borderline). A history of a suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of future suicide attempts, as well as death by suicide. Intentional self-harm (i.e., intentional self-injury without the expressed intent to die) is also associated with long-term risk for repeated attempts...
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...People who are born into a family with a history of mental illnesses or suicidal thoughts can be genetically affected. Not everyone who has a family history will develop suicidal ideation though and likewise, not everybody who experiences suicidal ideation has a family history of mental illness. Suicidal ideation can be caused by abnormally low levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. Other causes can be changes in the structure and functions of the brain and untreated mental disorders. Environmental factors such as repeated negative events and experiences. Others are major stress, self-doubt, peer pressure, divorce, changes in family structure, and moving to a new community. Some people feel suicide is a solution to their problems and stress, though suicide is not a solution to...
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...Suicide Among the Elderly: Symptoms that are ignored University of California, Irvine Professor Webster P117D November 27, 2007 Suicide among the elderly: Symptoms that are ignored More than 30,000 Americans every year commit suicide. A suicide happens every eighteen minutes. The highest rate of suicide of any age group occurs among the elderly. The elderly make up 12.6% of the population, yet they account for almost 18% of all the suicides. An elderly suicide occurs every 100 minutes. Suicide ranks as the eighth leading cause of death among those aged 65 and older (Noffsinger, Knoll). Firearms consist of the main method in which the elderly take their lives. The next two in line are overdosing and suffocation. White men over the age of 85 are at the greatest risk of all groups. In 1999, the suicide rate for these individuals was 59.6 per 100,000. 84% of all elderly suicides are men. The rate of suicide for women declines after age 60. Although older adults may attempt suicide less often, they have a higher completion rate. Contrary to popular belief, only about 2-4% of suicide victims were diagnosed with terminal illness at the time of their demise. 80% of all elderly victims of suicide have seen a primary care physician within six months of their suicide. Why is it that the suicide rates for older adults are much higher than every other age group? Depression is a key factor for the rates of suicide in the elderly. Depression is...
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...Suicidal ideation is more common than completed suicide. Many people faced with suicidal ideation do not commit suicide but may have suicidal behavior or make suicide attempts. Most persons who commit suicide have a psychiatric disorder at the time of death. Suicidal behavior can be characterized as a spectrum that ranges from fleeting suicidal thoughts to completed suicide. Suicidal ideation is more common than suicide attempts or completed suicide. Findings from psychological autopsy studies have consistently indicated that more than 90 percent of completed suicides in all age groups are associated with psychiatric disorders. It is not the psychiatric disorder itself that increases the risk of completed suicide, but the combination of the psychiatric disorder and a stressor, such as the death of a loved one, separation, divorce or recent unemployment, symptoms of depression, hopelessness, severe anxiety, insomnia, or panic attacks. It is important to note that not all people who are diagnosed with a medical or mental health condition experience suicidal ideation and that all suicidal ideation and behavior should be taken seriously. Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to commit suicide during periods of remission, when they are apt to feel depressed and hopeless, than when they are frankly psychotic.7 Patients with panic disorder and borderline personality disorder who commit suicide also have comorbid major depression or substance abuse. ...
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...Integrative Final Project Evon Stevenson CCMH 535 June 9, 2015 Dr. Robin Switzer Integrative Final Project Depression is the fourth leading cause of the worldwide disease burden, and approximately one in four elderly persons may suffer from depression or depressive symptoms (Glasser, Vogels, & Gravdal, 2009). It is a common and disabling disorder that goes undetected, causing unnecessary suffering (Almeida, & Almeida, 1999). This final project will evaluate a new instrument designed to assess depression in adults, ages 65 and older. Research will also be done on different assessment procedures to determine if Emily is clinically depressed or suicidal. Finally, ethical considerations and practice guidelines will be discussed in how to work with Emily and her family. The new instrument is called the Depression Inventory for the Elderly (DIE), it is a self-administered inventory, there are 90 items relating to such depressive symptoms as withdrawal, depressed mood, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, difficultly making decisions, vegetative functions, self-evaluation and interpersonal behaviors. The test takes 35 minutes to administer. The scoring uses a five-point scale of distress ranging (0-4), from “not at all” (0) to “extremely” (4). DIE yields raw and T scores for the Total Score and Primary Dimension Scores. The results are hand scored; T scores above 65 on the Total Score and the Primary Dimensions are considered in the “clinical range.” The normative...
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...Suicidal Behavior Suicide is a major, preventable current public health issue in the United States. In 2007, it was the tenth leading cause of death in our country, with the number of suicides reaching 34,598. Additionally, it is widely agreed upon that approximately eleven attempted suicides occur for every one successful suicide attempt (National Institute of Mental Health). There is a negative stigma surrounding suicidal and self-harming behaviors that discourages people from talking about suicide or seeking help. Suicidal behaviors are difficult to define, but for the purpose of research we refer to suicidal behaviors exclusively as “any self-initiated and deliberate ideations, communications, or actions that have potentially life-threatening consequences” (National Institutes of Health). The far-reaching effects of suicide have recently gotten the attention of many psychological researchers. These researchers have been able to break down what specifically drives suicidal behavior and thus, are now able to take preemptive steps to soften the resulting effects of this kind of behavior. Knowing how to identify the warning signs and understanding the psychological process driving suicidal thoughts and behaviors allow us to better exhibit effective prevention and management of suicidal desires. Being aware of suicidal warning signs is the most significant way the public can aid psychological professionals in suicide prevention. An individual can identify the presence of suicidal...
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