Non-fatal suicidal behaviour at the Johannesburg General Hospital

Abstract

Objective: Non-fatal suicidal behaviour (NFSB) severely impacts on the health services and the resources of a country and should be prevented. The aim of this control study was to describe a group of patients with NFSB and to elicit, if any, the factors associated with this behaviour compared to a non-suicidal control group. Method: Interviews were conducted on patients with NFSB treated in the Johannesburg Hospital medical emergency rooms. The information was gathered by way of a questionnaire and included: patient demographics, past history of psychiatric and medical illness, family history, habits and social adjustment. Results: The study sample comprised forty-three patients with NFSB (mean age = 29.7 years) and control group of forty-five non-suicide attempters (mean age = 30.9 years). 26 (60.5%) of the patients and 33 (73.3%) of the controls were females. 10 (23.3%) of the patients had been treated for NFSB within the preceding 12 months. Patients with a past history of a psychiatric illness or of physical or sexual abuse were significantly more likely to exhibit NFSB compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients who threaten deliberate self-harm and who have a history of previous NFSB, past psychiatric illness and physical or sexual abuse, are at a higher risk of this behaviour as compared to the general population. If NFSB intentions are suspected in or voiced by an individual, then these risk factors should be assessed and appropriate preventative measures instituted.

Demographic profile of patients and risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour in a South African district hospital

“…13 The current increasing trend of patients presenting with non-fatal suicide in South Africa will further impact the nation's healthcare services and place added strain on the resources of South Africa. 12 Non-fatal suicide patients who present to a healthcare establishment frequently require medication, counselling, a social worker, psychology and psychiatric evaluation and therapy. 14 In South Africa, divergent cultural and religious perceptions of suicidal behaviour have also influenced the assumption that suicidal behaviour is not a significant problem in parts of Africa.…”

“… 11 Mental health issues, past history of deliberate self-harm, poor self-esteem and feeling of hopelessness are seen amongst patients presenting with non-fatal suicide. 12 Patients likely to cause deliberate self-harm have reported financial stress, interpersonal relationship problems, lack of tertiary education and past psychiatric illness as the main reasons contributing to suicidal behaviour. 13 The current increasing trend of patients presenting with non-fatal suicide in South Africa will further impact the nation’s healthcare services and place added strain on the resources of South Africa.…”

“… 13 The current increasing trend of patients presenting with non-fatal suicide in South Africa will further impact the nation’s healthcare services and place added strain on the resources of South Africa. 12 …”

Young men in post-apartheid South Africa talk about masculinity and suicide prevention

“…Men accounted for 31.1% ( n = 101, mean age = 26.1 years) of attempted suicide cases referred to clinical psychologists over a 12-month period in a single hospital (du Toit et al, 2008). Moosa, Jeenah, Pillay, Vorster, and Liebenberg (2005) reported that 39.5% ( n = 17) of all suicide attempters admitted to Johannesburg General Hospital over a 1-month period were male. A national survey of 4,351 SA adults suggested that the lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation, plans, and attempts among men was 8%, 3.3%, and 1.8%, respectively (Joe, Stein, Seedat, Herman, & Williams, 2008).…”

Methods of deliberate self-harm in a tertiary hospital in South Africa

“…In the last 15 years, a number of descriptive general hospital-based studies have investigated the epidemiology of DSH in urban and rural hospitals in SA. 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 The methodological differences across these studies make it difficult to generalise findings; however, data suggest that self-poisoning is the most common method of DSH in SA.…”