Surveillance for Violent Deaths — National Violent Death Reporting System, 17 States, 2013

CDC Grand Rounds: Preventing Suicide Through a Comprehensive Public Health Approach

“…These data highlight suicide prevention opportunities (6). NVDRS data show that most suicides have multiple precipitating conditions, such as depression, intimate partner problems, physical health conditions, financial challenges, and legal problems (7). Suicide risk factors also include personal or family experiences of violence (e.g., child abuse and neglect or family history of suicide) and broader community conditions, such as high crime rates, easy access by persons at risk to lethal means (e.g., large amounts of medication or unlocked firearm), and limited access to health and social services (7,8).…”

“…NVDRS data show that most suicides have multiple precipitating conditions, such as depression, intimate partner problems, physical health conditions, financial challenges, and legal problems (7). Suicide risk factors also include personal or family experiences of violence (e.g., child abuse and neglect or family history of suicide) and broader community conditions, such as high crime rates, easy access by persons at risk to lethal means (e.g., large amounts of medication or unlocked firearm), and limited access to health and social services (7,8). NVDRS data underscore that mental health treatment should not be the only prevention strategy; approximately 70% of suicide decedents were not receiving mental health services at the time of their death, and approximately 80% did not have a known history of previous suicide attempts (7).…”

“…Suicide risk factors also include personal or family experiences of violence (e.g., child abuse and neglect or family history of suicide) and broader community conditions, such as high crime rates, easy access by persons at risk to lethal means (e.g., large amounts of medication or unlocked firearm), and limited access to health and social services (7,8). NVDRS data underscore that mental health treatment should not be the only prevention strategy; approximately 70% of suicide decedents were not receiving mental health services at the time of their death, and approximately 80% did not have a known history of previous suicide attempts (7). Public health approaches, in contrast to clinical service delivery, can reach more persons and address many of the community-level factors that increase the potential for suicide, other forms of violence, and other health risk behaviors (e.g., drug and alcohol abuse).…”

Suicide and Lyme and associated diseases

“…Some of the well-recognized contributors to suicide include anhedonia, depression, psychosis, substance abuse, bipolar illness, panic attacks, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessiveness, anxiety, agitation, impulsivity, aggressiveness, depersonalization, rigidity, narcissism, borderline personality, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, repression, lack of outlets for frustration, sexual issues, boundary issues, other mental conditions, chronic pain, disability, neurological impairments, chronic medical problems, infections, immune reactions, genetic vulnerabilities, social isolation, adverse life events, abusive relationship(s), family dysfunction, family substance abuse, family mental illness, separation or divorce, exposure to trauma, abusive development (ie, child abuse or neglect), family history of mental illness or suicide, incarceration, legal problems, financial distress, prior suicide attempts, high crime rates and other broader community conditions, limited access to health and social services, and easy access by persons at risk to lethal means (ie, 90-day supplies of medication or unlocked firearm) 1,2. Acute triggering events can include window of fear, exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, acute sleep deprivation, alcohol and/or drug intoxication or withdrawal, recent rejection, loss, embarrassment or failure, “intimate partner problems, physical health conditions, financial challenges, and legal problems” 3. Deterrents to suicide include mental fitness, frustration tolerance, cognitive abilities, coping skills, parenthood, supportive relationships, community and other social connections, purpose, ethical and religious beliefs, good medical and neurological health, and access to social services and psychiatric and medical care 4…”

Assessing Homicides by and of U.S. Law-Enforcement Officers

“…3 Most of the victims were male (93.7%) and between 20 and 54 years of age (82.9%). The rates were higher among non-Hispanic blacks (0.6 per 100,000 population) and Hispanics (0.3 per 100,000) than among non-Hispanic whites (0.1 per 100,000) (see table).…”