Suicide Assessment and Prevention _ ____________________________________________________________
SUICIDE SURVIVORS: TREATMENT AND RESOURCES Family members and friends affected by the death of a loved one through suicide are referred to as “suicide survivors.” Conservative estimates suggesting a ratio of six survivors for every suicide deaths indicate that an estimated 6 million Americans became suicide survivors in the past 25 years; however, as noted, many more individuals are affected by a single suicide [4; 13; 14]. The death of a loved one by suicide can be shocking, pain- ful, and unexpected for survivors. The ensuing grief can be intense, complex, chronic, and nonlinear. Working through grief is a highly individual and unique process that survivors experience in their own way and at their own pace. Grief does not always move in a forward direction, and there is no timeframe for grief. Survivors should not expect their lives to return to their previous state and should strive to adjust to life without their loved one. The initial emotional response may be overwhelming, and crying is a natural reaction and an expression of sadness following the loss of a loved one [13]. Survivors often struggle with trying to comprehend why the suicide occurred and how they could have intervened. Feelings of guilt are likely when the survivor believes he or she could have prevented the suicide. The survivor may even experience relief at times, especially if the loved one had a psychiatric ill- ness. The stigma and shame that surround suicide may cause difficulty among the family members and friends of survivors in knowing what to say and how to support the survivor and might prevent the survivor from reaching out for help. Ongo- ing support remains important to maintain family and other relationships during the grieving process [13]. Many survivors find that the best help comes from attending a support group for survivors of suicide in which they can openly share their own story and their feelings with fellow survivors without pressure or fear of judgment and shame. Support groups can be a helpful source of guidance, understanding, and support through the healing process [13]. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention maintains an international directory of suicide bereavement support groups on their website, https://afsp.org.
CONCLUSION Suicide is a major preventable public health problem and a significant cause of mortality. This course has reviewed the major aspects of suicide assessment, management, and preven- tion, with a special focus on military veterans. Primary care contact may represent the last opportunity for intervention in the severely depressed suicidal patient, making the thorough comprehension of identification and treatment of depression and suicide risk imperative.
WORKS CITED https://qr2.mobi/suicide-assessment
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