The difficulties in measuring suicidal intent in cases of self-injury are discussed, and a scale is described to measure this intent. This scale has been used in 500 cases of self-injury. It is practical and reliable. Results show that the scores derived from it are closely related to the similar Beck Scale; they are also related to age, sex, social isolation method of self-injury, previous history of self-injury or of psychiatric treatment, physical health at the time of self-injury and alcohol abuse. These results are discussed with particular reference to suicide prediction and the future validation of the scale by long-term follow-up.
SUMMARYThis article reviews 145 patients over the age of 65 years seen at a district general hospital after deliberate self-harm between 1973 and 1985. There was no significant change in the numbers seen per year, and they comprised 5.4% of all the hospital's self-harm cases. The male to female ratio was 1:1.5 although the self-harm rates for males and females over 65 in the local population were identical. Fifty-five per cent widowed, over 90% of the patients had depressive conditions, only 3% had an established dementia, and 63% had significant physical illness. Half the patients received inpatient psychiatric treatment. Under 10% of the patients gave a history of earlier self-harm, while both the repetition and suicide rates were very low. These findings are discussed.KEY wom-Attempted suicide, self harm, suicide intent, patients aged over 65.
Background: Mental ill health, especially depression, is recognised as an important health concern, potentially with greater impact in rural communities. This paper reports on a project, Coach the Coach, in which Australian rural football clubs were the setting and football coaches the leaders in providing greater mental health awareness and capacity to support early help seeking behaviour among young males experiencing mental health difficulties, especially depression. Coaches and other football club leaders were provided with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.Method: Pre-post measures of the ability of those club leaders undertaking mental health training to recognise depression and schizophrenia and of their knowledge of evidence supported treatment options, and confidence in responding to mental health difficulties were obtained using a questionnaire. This was supplemented by focus group interviews. Pre-post questionnaire data from players in participating football clubs was used to investigate attitudes to depression, treatment options and ability to recognise depression from a clinical scenario. Key project stakeholders were also interviewed. Results:Club leaders (n = 36) who were trained in MHFA and club players (n = 275) who were not trained, participated in this evaluation. More than 50% of club leaders who undertook the training showed increased capacity to recognise mental illness and 66% reported increased confidence to respond to mental health difficulties in others. They reported that this training built upon their existing skills, fulfilled their perceived social responsibilities and empowered them. Indirect benefit to club players from this approach seemed limited as minimal changes in attitudes were reported by players. Key stakeholders regarded the project as valuable. Conclusions:Rural football clubs appear to be appropriate social structures to promote rural mental health awareness. Club leaders, including many coaches, benefit from MHFA training, reporting increased skills and confidence. Benefit to club players from this approach was less obvious. However, the generally positive findings of this study suggest further research in this area is desirable.
Five hundred patients who had completed a suicide intent scale after self injury were followed up over five years. Seven definite and six doubtful suicides occurred. The future suicides tended to have high scores on the scale for their original self injury episodes and had very high scores for the penultimate self injury before suicide. Discussion centres on the small number of suicides ascertained and on the use of the scale as a suicide predictor. A group of very high risk patients was identified by repeated use of the scale, and the suggestion is made that the scale might be used as part of a suicide prevention programme.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.