Suicide - Overview
Suicidal motivation and mental disorder
Complex factors. Real problems and related pain in trying to solve them. Danger in delayed treatment, benefits of early recognition. Brighter outlook. Need for interveners to give sympathetic help.
Suicide occurrence and statistics
Most suicides involve people who are suffering a mental disorder. Vulnerable groups. Some suicides are not predictable; don't blame.
Police-inflicted suicide or victim-precipitated homicide
Cases where a subject forces police to shoot in self-defense. Post-traumatic problems for police and other survivors. Non-lethal alternatives to firearms.
Self-inflicted suicide
Attempted suicide - or a serious threat of suicide - is a frequent component of mental health emergency calls. The suicide impulse may seem like a rational or desperate cry for help but also may be compelled by psychosis and commanding voices; and therefore must not be ignored.
Risk of suicide: Understanding and accessing motivation
It is not possible to predict accurately who will or will not attempt to die by suicide. If the subject expresses regret at failure of a previous attempt, there will probably be another attempt in the near future. Some drop hints of deep despair, but many who are very serious about committing suicide, rarely tell others about their intentions. Risk Factors. Warning Signs. Adolescent depression.
Suicide intervention: tips on what to say and do
Legal authorization for police on suicide risk. Every case is different, but suicide intervention in a crisis should consider a number of practical steps such as: Safety first. Get cooperation from others. Be sympathetic, non-judgmental. Discuss suicide frankly. Problem-solving. Treatment - no shame. Check medication, etc. Follow-up support & help.
Trauma and post-trauma support services
Services for interveners, service providers, families/friends of suicide victims. Spiritual comfort and advice are also offered here so police can help themselves and others involved in a suicide trauma situation toward a longer perspective and a more sympathetic moral interpretation of suicide
Research report shows frequency of "suicide by cop"
New US studies estimate more than 10 per cent of suicides have involved a subject imposing a deadly threat on police, causing them to use firearms in self-defence.
Suggestions from family members:
In a police intervention in a suicidal case, "family/friends are likely to be in trauma. If possible, a trained social worker (should) attend to their trauma. If appropriately supported, the family/friends are more likely to be able to be helpful/supportive. In addition, (they) have potential value in providing collaborative information…" - B.B.
"Family members have valuable contributions to make to solutions, given their intimate knowledge of the person with the (suicidal mental) issues. At the same time they can be part of the dysfunction. |
Copyright
The name and contents of PIIMIC are copyright jointly by the Justice Institute of BC Police Academy and the author, Richard Dolman, except for the material in Legal Issues section B on Mentally Disordered Offenders (“MDO section”) which is copyright by Richard Dolman. All material except for the MDO section is available for free copying and downloading by others in Canada for not-for-profit educational uses in Canada, provided appropriate credit is given. Sales or other commercial uses of any of the contents of PIIMIC are strictly forbidden without written permission. Please contact
rdolman@telus.net
on copyright inquiries.
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