Below is a 2-page information sheet that was developed for use by everyone: police, public, people with mental illness and family members, paramedics, etc. They are part of the first phase of of the mental health and police project from 2005 (funded by BC Mental Health and Addiction Services and Provincial Health Services Authority).
They can be found here and are written in a simple, direct format, outlining common issues involved in police interactions with people with mental illness.
I thought it was good information for everyone.
Hallucinations and Delusions
Police officers, emergency workers, family members and friends, may at some time have to respond to a person in mental health crisis. It can sometimes be a frightening experience not understanding what is causing the person in crisis to act the way they do and not knowing how to respond most effectively. The most important tool you can have is information: a basic understanding of mental illness and the symptoms of different mental illnesses and, perhaps most importantly, what the person in a mental health crisis is experiencing and how you can best respond to help them.
Hallucinations and delusions can be symptoms of a number of different mental illnesses. Some types of drugs (legal or illegal) may also induce hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are when a person senses (sees, hears, feels, smells, tastes) things that do not exist. Delusions are when a person holds personal beliefs that are false, inaccurate or exaggerated (e.g., that people are after them, that they are royalty or a spy or a specific well-known person such as Elvis Presley or the Pope).
Recognizing and Understanding Hallucinations
The most frequent hallucination involves hearing, and often includes hearing voices which tell the person to do something (known as command hallucinations). You may recognize that the person is suffering from auditory (hearing) hallucinations when he or she appears preoccupied and unaware of their surroundings, talks to him or herself, has difficulty understanding or following conversations, and misinterprets the words and actions of others. The person may also isolate themselves or use radio or other sounds to tune out the voices.
A person experiencing other types of hallucination (visual, tactile, smell, taste) are usually identifiable by the person’s interaction with the hallucination: visual focus on something you cannot see, touching, scratching or brushing things off themselves, sniffing or holding their nose, spitting out food, etc., when there is no apparent reason to do so.
Responding to Hallucinations
A person experiencing hallucinations may be very frightened by them and needs your help in establishing a calm environment. Do not invade personal space or touch them without permission. Speak slowly, calmly and quietly, using simple concrete language. Be patient – it may take the person longer to process information. Reduce stimuli: turn off radios, televisions, bright lights, or anything else that may cause stress. Address the person by name or, if you don’t know it, ask them how they would like to be addressed.
The immediate goal of your response should be to help the person focus on reality rather than the hallucination. Do not pretend you also experience the hallucination, but do not try to convince the person that the hallucination does not exist: it does exist to them. Ask questions such as: “Are you hearing voices other than mine? What are they telling you? What do you see/feel/taste/ smell?” Tell the person: “I don’t hear the voices (see what you see, etc.), but I believe that you do.” Instruct the person to listen to your voice and not the other voice(s), or to look at you rather than whatever else they are seeing.
A person experiencing hallucinations needs treatment, and should be taken to a hospital or mental health service provider. Reassure the person that you want to help them, and explain who you are, what you are doing and why. If other people arrive, explain who they are, that they are there to help, and how they are going to help. The person needs to understand what is going on in order to reduce stress and confusion, which can increase hallucinations.
Recognizing and Understanding Delusions
Some delusions may seem relatively harmless in the short term, such as delusions of being a rock star, royalty, or a religious figure. These delusions can be potentially harmful, however, if they include or lead to delusions of having special abilities or characteristics such as flying, walking on water, or invincibility. Most common, however, are paranoid delusions: the belief that someone or something is going to harm the person in some way.
Paranoid delusions are usually evidenced by extreme suspicion, fear, isolation, insomnia (for fear of being harmed while asleep), avoidance of food and/or medication (for fear of poisoning), and sometimes violent actions. A person experiencing paranoid delusions has extreme difficulty trusting others, will frequently misinterpret others’ words and actions, and experience ordinary things in his or her environment as a threat.
Responding to Delusions
Until you know the content and context of the delusion, it is important to keep yourself safe from potentially violent reactions, and provide a comfort zone for the person experiencing delusions. Keep a safe distance or some barrier (such as a piece of furniture) between the two of you. Do not touch the person without permission. Position yourself at the person’s level if it is safe to do so. Do not whisper or laugh, as this may be misunderstood and may increase paranoia. Remember that someone experiencing delusions may not always be honest about what they think or believe; especially if their delusions are paranoid, the person may not trust you enough to be honest.
Ask questions about what the delusion is all about, particularly any elements which indicate the potential for harming self or others (e.g. “Are you having any thoughts about hurting yourself or others?”) Do not attack delusions or try to argue or convince the person that the thoughts are wrong or not real. Nor should you indicate that you believe in the delusion; instead explain “I believe you are telling me this is as you see it.” Do not smile or shake your head when the person speaks – this may lead to misunderstanding.
Ask whether there is anything you can do to make the person feel more comfortable, and explain your intentions before you act. Police officers and other persons in uniform must realize the potentially intimidating impact of the uniform on someone suffering from paranoid delusions. It is important to assure the person that they are safe, that you are not going to harm them, that the uniform and equipment you carry are for protecting them and that is what you want to do – protect them. Earning trust in order to help the person get treatment is the goal, while at the same time maintaining safety for all.
Hallucinations and delusions can be frightening for both the person experiencing them and for those who come in contact with that person, including police officers. Maintaining safety for everyone, and providing a calm, clear and persistent message that you want to help the person in need, while at the same time giving that person the time and space to hear and respond to that message, is the best response you can give as first responder.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Suicide and Mental Illness
Suicide and Mental Illness
From: http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/content/about_mental_illness/suicide.asp?cID=3965
People with mood disorders are at a particularly high risk of suicide. Studies indicate that more than 90 percent of suicide victims have a diagnosable psychiatric illness, and suicide is the most common cause of death for people with schizophrenia. Both major depression and bipolar disorder account for 15 to 25 percent of all deaths by suicide in patients with severe mood disorders. According to Toronto Metro Police Mental Health Act data, the number of documented suicide attempts rose 14 percent from 1996 to 2001. Statistics Canada reports that suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in Canada.
From: http://www.ontario.cmha.ca/content/about_mental_illness/suicide.asp?cID=3965
People with mood disorders are at a particularly high risk of suicide. Studies indicate that more than 90 percent of suicide victims have a diagnosable psychiatric illness, and suicide is the most common cause of death for people with schizophrenia. Both major depression and bipolar disorder account for 15 to 25 percent of all deaths by suicide in patients with severe mood disorders. According to Toronto Metro Police Mental Health Act data, the number of documented suicide attempts rose 14 percent from 1996 to 2001. Statistics Canada reports that suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death in Canada.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day
Some local activities submitted from around the world - From International Association for Suicide Prevention
Australia: Department of Health and Ageing (Australian Government)
The Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing has funded a Breakfast Forum to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day. The Forum is being held on Monday 11 September 2006 in Perth, Western Australia. The Forum is being funded under the Department's National Suicide Prevention Strategy, and will be hosted by the State based Advisory Group for the Strategy. It is hoped there will be 150 attendees from across the community in the following sectors: government and non-government; community based service providers; the corporate sector, Divisions of General Practice and the tertiary sector. The following three presentations will occur at the Forum: 1), Mr Michael O'Kane, State Manager, Department of Health and Ageing re: Welcome and overview of the Australian Government's National Suicide Prevention Strategy; 2) Mr Peter Orchard re: Headspace, National Mental Health Initiative; 3) Ms Lorna Hirsch, Livingworks in the Pilbara re: Pilbara Suicide Prevention Project; and 4) Mr Simon Dann, GP Coastal Division of General Practice & Dr Pam Hendry, Perth Modern School re: GP Coastal's Suicide Intervention Program: GPs Life Saver. In addition to Forum attendees accessing valuable information about these topics regarding suicide prevention, the Forum will provide a valuable opportunity for networking.
Australia
Launch 3 quilt creation workshops in Tasmania: Have sought funding to provide counselling and textile artist resources to enable creation of memorial quilts in a supported and therapeutic environment. We do not have support available for people on our island who have experienced the death of a parent, brother, sister, friend, due to suicide. I hope that the spiritual reflection and launch of 3 quilt creation workshops to be held during the next 10 months will draw attention to the need for such support. As the quilt grows it will perhaps also draw attention to the fact that our state has the second highest incidence of suicide in the country and we need to put suicide prevention more strongly onto health policy agendas, and understand more about why we have such terrible losses (statistics).
Austria: Viennese Crisis Intervention Center
Media-workshop `Mass-media Reporting on Suicide´: We organize a workshop for journalists providing them information about suicide prevention, imitational effects, crisis intervention, influence of media reports on suicidal behavior and suicide media coverage (guidelines `How to Report on Suicide´). In order to improve the cooperation between the Viennese Crisis Intervention Center and Austrian journalists we post regularly updated suicide statistics of Vienna, Austria and EU on our website: www.kriseninterventionszentrum.at
Belgium: Centre for Suicide Prevention
Press Conference and breakfast to be held on Friday 8th September. Issues to be discussed at the press conference include: Suicide in Belgium, Suicide as a public health problem, the role of the media in disseminating information about suicide. There will also be a presentation of new suicide prevention activities being undertaken at the Centre for Suicide Prevention. Time will be provided for questions and answers.
Belgium: Suicide Prevention Project of the Flemish Mental Health Centres
On Monday 4 September we will hold a conference for the media and the mental health sector to launch the new website of the Suicide Prevention Project of the Flemish Mental Health Centres: www.zelfmoordpreventievlaanderen.be At this conference, the Minister of Health and Well-Being will present her plans regarding suicide prevention. Several press releases will announce the event.
Brasil: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Serviço de Psiquiatria, Porto Alegre
On September 11th we will deliver a brief training on suicide prevention for the clinical personnel of the hospital (including nursing attendants, nurses, etc.). On September 12th two lectures will be presented (by M.D. Ph. D Cláudio Laks Eizirick, President of the International Psychoanalysis Association (IPA) and Ph. D. Blanca Werlang, a Psychologist who studieshistorical aspects of suicide behavior). These lectures will regard the psychodynamics and historical aspects of suicide. We are also developing a guideline for management of suicide risk on our hospital that will be presented to the hospital staff on September 12th.
Canada: The Casey Project, Suicide Awareness
We have had a newspaper interview (full page), have a radio interview coming up, we will start our walk in New Minas, Nova Scotia, Canada to Kentville, N.S., Can. where we will meet at the recreation centre. We have displays of resources available to people in crisis at the rec. cent. We have a wooden forget-me-not crafted out of cedar on a bamboo dowel with wooden leaves, in the centre is a round engravable plaque that can bear the date and name of the loved one you lost, this can be put in a memory garden or indoor plant pot to honour your loved one lost to suicide. This is a fund raiser for suicide prevention. From the rec. centre we will walk around the town square with our banner for World Suicide Prevention Day (which we will honour on Sept. 9th.in our town). Once we get back to the rec. centre, we will have a charity barbeque. This is our second year for the walk. Last year it involved only Kentville, N.S. Next year I hope to involve more towns. One day, all of N.S. and then all of Canada will pick up the torch.
Canada: Central Vancouver Island Crisis Society
We will be doing a button and poster campaign: "Embrace Life Suicide is everyone's Loss" and will be presenting that message along with the message "With Understanding New Hope" in the media, our local univeristy, banks, doctors offices, community service providers, local businesses. and in all of our local high schools and midle schools. We have also recently begun campaigning with business and service providers to make them aware of this day and to solicit their support in making our plans for awareness a success. Planned events include a workshop and luncheon that will focus on information about suicide and the importance of awareness and self care as a preventative measure, a student booth at our local university, and a candle light vigil on Suicide Prevention Day.
Canada: Embrace Life Council Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit
The objective of the event will be to celebrate life, to create awareness of suicide as an issue where solutions can be identified at the community level; to encourage teamwork within communities, and be a media campaign for youth not to give up. Each community will be requested to: • do a walk and to hold hands in a similar manner as the embrace life council logo; • fly the newly created Embrace life flag; • celebrate Nunavut Embrace Life Day by providing refreshments and prizes for games; • post the newly created Poster with Jordan Tootoos image and Kamatsiaqtut’s Helpline number; • distribute wristbands with the words "embrace life" and Brochures for youth entitled embracing life: this is who i am, which includes images of youth and quotes with their perspectives.
Canada: NEED Crisis and Information Line
On Sunday, September 10th there will be a short walk, to be followed by a short discussion forum. We will hear from people impacted by suicide and people working on prevention. We anticipate some media coverage of the event.
Canada (New-Brunswick): Suicide prevention Society
Public awareness by radio interviews. Walkaton, barbecue and live bands.
Chile: Particular/Fondart
Suicide awareness campaign: With the support of the Ministry of Culture of Chile, we are making a campaign for awareness about the suicide phenomenon. We will distribute to the public of Santiago city a series of artistic photo-postals, each one of them with a brief "infography" about suicide statistics and other facts, with its social and medical consecuences. We'll try to get this activity promoted in several press spaces, planed for the 10/09/06.
Germany: National Suicide Prevention Programme for Germany (NaSPro)
Main special event in Berlin. Special ecumenical service in the Gedächtniskirche. Public meeting with politicians and speeches after the service in front of the church. Other local events.
Germany: Psycho-social crisis center Psychosozialer Krisendienst Gesundheitsamt Dresden
The press-conference is a cooperation project between several crisis-intervention-teams, telephone help-lines, the psychiatric clinic of the University of Dresden and especially Prof. W. Felber, president of DGS. We want to inform about + suicide and suicide prevention where can people find professional help and about media guidelines for reporting.
Ghana: Young Mobilization Association
Conference: Children's health.
Guam, United States of America Territory: Life Works Guam
Collaborate and network with other agencies like University of Guam, Department of Youth Affairs, Guam Public School System, public media like the newspaper and television media on the island regarding our Suicide Awareness, Precvention, and Intervention Campaign: With Understanding , New Hope Campaign starting September 1-30, 2006. Weekly write up in the newspaper media, 2 TV interviews. Candle Light Vigil after the 5 K run walk event. Mememory Trees at the various McDonald's Restaurants (we have started last year), a very profound touching event. September 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 2006 conduct a two day workshop on the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training at the Univeristy Guam and Outrigger Guam Resort Hotel. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me: 671-632-0257, 671-777-4624, 671-477-8040, Marie Virata Halloran, Executive Director, Life Works Guam.
Hong Kong: The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong
The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong will have a radio program in RTHK 2 on 8/9/2006 (Friday)3:30-4:30. The main theme is "With understanding, new hope". The whole radio drama will be divided into three parts to introduce suicide prevention services as well as the importance of listening and understanding. 24-hours hotline volunteers are invited to participate in the drama and share their experience through a storytelling way.
India: Medico Pastoral Association, Bangalore
Rally is being organised to partner with agencies and organisations that provide services to people with emotonial problems and disorders.This will involve representation from students, working professionals,senior citzens, celebrities and volunters of various backgrounds on the theme "Life.You're worth it".
Ireland: Johnstown Therapy Centre, Dublin
Our Centre will be holding an open day on Sunday 10th Sept exhibiting information about suicide. We will also have psychotherapists/counsellors available throughout the day to talk to people who have been affected by suicide.
Ireland: The 3Ts (Turn the Tide of Suicide)
In Dublin, The 3Ts will host a Candlelight Vigil in the city centre to commemorate the many lives that have been lost in Ireland through Suicide both this year and in the past. The Vigil is open to all who have lost loved ones or who have been touched in some way by suicide. Key speakers will join the Vigil to mark the day with music, song, and a minutes silence. Venue: Bank of Ireland (Forecourt), College Green, Dublin 2 Time: 9.00pm - 10.00pm. email: 3ts@alburn.com web: www.3ts.ie
Italy: Department of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome
Following the pattern used last year, we are celebrating World Suicide Prevention Day 2006 with various activities, coordinated by Dr. Maurizio Pompili, such as a conference with the participation of a number of speakers that will present updated information on suicide prevention strategies and focus on the issue. Special meetings have been organised to educate medical personnel to deal with suicidal patients effectively. Nurses and doctors have been invited to take part in this event which has been divided into two parts. One took place in July and the other will be held in the second week of September. Dr. Pompili has also organised conferences devoted to psychologists and other mental health professionals. He also provided a number of editorials and press releases in order to attract public awareness of the problem. Dr. Pompili is also taking care of events to celebrate the National Suicide Prevention Week 2006 organised by the American Association of Suicidology. He has also been invited to organise events for the World Mental Health Day 2006 (Oct 10) dedicated to suicide.
Japan: Lifelink
Following up on our conference of last year and with the enactment of the Fundamental Law for Suicide Measures this year, Lifelink, with sponsorship from the WHO, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (waiting approval), the Johnson and Johnson Contribution Committee and the Central Research Institute, INC, will be holding an all-day forum for invited specialists at the National Institution for Youth Education, Tokyo. The aim of the forum is to create the framework to realise the initiatives for suicide prevention, research and survivor support provided in this new legislation. The forum will begin with Livelink, an interchange between private suicide-related organisations from throughout Japan and will be followed by three sessions to discuss the grand design for suicide measures, surveys of the current state of suicide prevention measures and creation of a regional network for suicide prevention. The forum will end with a party for all participants to deepen their ties and informally exchange ideas. For further information, please visit our website at http://www.lifelink.or.jp.
México: BENEMÉRITA UNIVERSIDAD AUTONÓMA DE PUEBLA
On 14, September, we have organized an activity at the university autonomous of Puebla, this is titled "Meeting about suicidal tendencies: detection and prevention". This activity is organized by the Faculty of Psychology. In this activity professors and students participate in some round tables, and we have made a poster to spread the activity. On 12 and 13, October, we have organized an event titled: "International seminary of integral attention before suicidal conducts". All the information is at:
Australia: Department of Health and Ageing (Australian Government)
The Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing has funded a Breakfast Forum to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day. The Forum is being held on Monday 11 September 2006 in Perth, Western Australia. The Forum is being funded under the Department's National Suicide Prevention Strategy, and will be hosted by the State based Advisory Group for the Strategy. It is hoped there will be 150 attendees from across the community in the following sectors: government and non-government; community based service providers; the corporate sector, Divisions of General Practice and the tertiary sector. The following three presentations will occur at the Forum: 1), Mr Michael O'Kane, State Manager, Department of Health and Ageing re: Welcome and overview of the Australian Government's National Suicide Prevention Strategy; 2) Mr Peter Orchard re: Headspace, National Mental Health Initiative; 3) Ms Lorna Hirsch, Livingworks in the Pilbara re: Pilbara Suicide Prevention Project; and 4) Mr Simon Dann, GP Coastal Division of General Practice & Dr Pam Hendry, Perth Modern School re: GP Coastal's Suicide Intervention Program: GPs Life Saver. In addition to Forum attendees accessing valuable information about these topics regarding suicide prevention, the Forum will provide a valuable opportunity for networking.
Australia
Launch 3 quilt creation workshops in Tasmania: Have sought funding to provide counselling and textile artist resources to enable creation of memorial quilts in a supported and therapeutic environment. We do not have support available for people on our island who have experienced the death of a parent, brother, sister, friend, due to suicide. I hope that the spiritual reflection and launch of 3 quilt creation workshops to be held during the next 10 months will draw attention to the need for such support. As the quilt grows it will perhaps also draw attention to the fact that our state has the second highest incidence of suicide in the country and we need to put suicide prevention more strongly onto health policy agendas, and understand more about why we have such terrible losses (statistics).
Austria: Viennese Crisis Intervention Center
Media-workshop `Mass-media Reporting on Suicide´: We organize a workshop for journalists providing them information about suicide prevention, imitational effects, crisis intervention, influence of media reports on suicidal behavior and suicide media coverage (guidelines `How to Report on Suicide´). In order to improve the cooperation between the Viennese Crisis Intervention Center and Austrian journalists we post regularly updated suicide statistics of Vienna, Austria and EU on our website: www.kriseninterventionszentrum.at
Belgium: Centre for Suicide Prevention
Press Conference and breakfast to be held on Friday 8th September. Issues to be discussed at the press conference include: Suicide in Belgium, Suicide as a public health problem, the role of the media in disseminating information about suicide. There will also be a presentation of new suicide prevention activities being undertaken at the Centre for Suicide Prevention. Time will be provided for questions and answers.
Belgium: Suicide Prevention Project of the Flemish Mental Health Centres
On Monday 4 September we will hold a conference for the media and the mental health sector to launch the new website of the Suicide Prevention Project of the Flemish Mental Health Centres: www.zelfmoordpreventievlaanderen.be At this conference, the Minister of Health and Well-Being will present her plans regarding suicide prevention. Several press releases will announce the event.
Brasil: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Serviço de Psiquiatria, Porto Alegre
On September 11th we will deliver a brief training on suicide prevention for the clinical personnel of the hospital (including nursing attendants, nurses, etc.). On September 12th two lectures will be presented (by M.D. Ph. D Cláudio Laks Eizirick, President of the International Psychoanalysis Association (IPA) and Ph. D. Blanca Werlang, a Psychologist who studieshistorical aspects of suicide behavior). These lectures will regard the psychodynamics and historical aspects of suicide. We are also developing a guideline for management of suicide risk on our hospital that will be presented to the hospital staff on September 12th.
Canada: The Casey Project, Suicide Awareness
We have had a newspaper interview (full page), have a radio interview coming up, we will start our walk in New Minas, Nova Scotia, Canada to Kentville, N.S., Can. where we will meet at the recreation centre. We have displays of resources available to people in crisis at the rec. cent. We have a wooden forget-me-not crafted out of cedar on a bamboo dowel with wooden leaves, in the centre is a round engravable plaque that can bear the date and name of the loved one you lost, this can be put in a memory garden or indoor plant pot to honour your loved one lost to suicide. This is a fund raiser for suicide prevention. From the rec. centre we will walk around the town square with our banner for World Suicide Prevention Day (which we will honour on Sept. 9th.in our town). Once we get back to the rec. centre, we will have a charity barbeque. This is our second year for the walk. Last year it involved only Kentville, N.S. Next year I hope to involve more towns. One day, all of N.S. and then all of Canada will pick up the torch.
Canada: Central Vancouver Island Crisis Society
We will be doing a button and poster campaign: "Embrace Life Suicide is everyone's Loss" and will be presenting that message along with the message "With Understanding New Hope" in the media, our local univeristy, banks, doctors offices, community service providers, local businesses. and in all of our local high schools and midle schools. We have also recently begun campaigning with business and service providers to make them aware of this day and to solicit their support in making our plans for awareness a success. Planned events include a workshop and luncheon that will focus on information about suicide and the importance of awareness and self care as a preventative measure, a student booth at our local university, and a candle light vigil on Suicide Prevention Day.
Canada: Embrace Life Council Isaksimagit Inuusirmi Katujjiqatigiit
The objective of the event will be to celebrate life, to create awareness of suicide as an issue where solutions can be identified at the community level; to encourage teamwork within communities, and be a media campaign for youth not to give up. Each community will be requested to: • do a walk and to hold hands in a similar manner as the embrace life council logo; • fly the newly created Embrace life flag; • celebrate Nunavut Embrace Life Day by providing refreshments and prizes for games; • post the newly created Poster with Jordan Tootoos image and Kamatsiaqtut’s Helpline number; • distribute wristbands with the words "embrace life" and Brochures for youth entitled embracing life: this is who i am, which includes images of youth and quotes with their perspectives.
Canada: NEED Crisis and Information Line
On Sunday, September 10th there will be a short walk, to be followed by a short discussion forum. We will hear from people impacted by suicide and people working on prevention. We anticipate some media coverage of the event.
Canada (New-Brunswick): Suicide prevention Society
Public awareness by radio interviews. Walkaton, barbecue and live bands.
Chile: Particular/Fondart
Suicide awareness campaign: With the support of the Ministry of Culture of Chile, we are making a campaign for awareness about the suicide phenomenon. We will distribute to the public of Santiago city a series of artistic photo-postals, each one of them with a brief "infography" about suicide statistics and other facts, with its social and medical consecuences. We'll try to get this activity promoted in several press spaces, planed for the 10/09/06.
Germany: National Suicide Prevention Programme for Germany (NaSPro)
Main special event in Berlin. Special ecumenical service in the Gedächtniskirche. Public meeting with politicians and speeches after the service in front of the church. Other local events.
Germany: Psycho-social crisis center Psychosozialer Krisendienst Gesundheitsamt Dresden
The press-conference is a cooperation project between several crisis-intervention-teams, telephone help-lines, the psychiatric clinic of the University of Dresden and especially Prof. W. Felber, president of DGS. We want to inform about + suicide and suicide prevention where can people find professional help and about media guidelines for reporting.
Ghana: Young Mobilization Association
Conference: Children's health.
Guam, United States of America Territory: Life Works Guam
Collaborate and network with other agencies like University of Guam, Department of Youth Affairs, Guam Public School System, public media like the newspaper and television media on the island regarding our Suicide Awareness, Precvention, and Intervention Campaign: With Understanding , New Hope Campaign starting September 1-30, 2006. Weekly write up in the newspaper media, 2 TV interviews. Candle Light Vigil after the 5 K run walk event. Mememory Trees at the various McDonald's Restaurants (we have started last year), a very profound touching event. September 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 2006 conduct a two day workshop on the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training at the Univeristy Guam and Outrigger Guam Resort Hotel. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me: 671-632-0257, 671-777-4624, 671-477-8040, Marie Virata Halloran, Executive Director, Life Works Guam.
Hong Kong: The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong
The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong will have a radio program in RTHK 2 on 8/9/2006 (Friday)3:30-4:30. The main theme is "With understanding, new hope". The whole radio drama will be divided into three parts to introduce suicide prevention services as well as the importance of listening and understanding. 24-hours hotline volunteers are invited to participate in the drama and share their experience through a storytelling way.
India: Medico Pastoral Association, Bangalore
Rally is being organised to partner with agencies and organisations that provide services to people with emotonial problems and disorders.This will involve representation from students, working professionals,senior citzens, celebrities and volunters of various backgrounds on the theme "Life.You're worth it".
Ireland: Johnstown Therapy Centre, Dublin
Our Centre will be holding an open day on Sunday 10th Sept exhibiting information about suicide. We will also have psychotherapists/counsellors available throughout the day to talk to people who have been affected by suicide.
Ireland: The 3Ts (Turn the Tide of Suicide)
In Dublin, The 3Ts will host a Candlelight Vigil in the city centre to commemorate the many lives that have been lost in Ireland through Suicide both this year and in the past. The Vigil is open to all who have lost loved ones or who have been touched in some way by suicide. Key speakers will join the Vigil to mark the day with music, song, and a minutes silence. Venue: Bank of Ireland (Forecourt), College Green, Dublin 2 Time: 9.00pm - 10.00pm. email: 3ts@alburn.com web: www.3ts.ie
Italy: Department of Psychiatry, Sant'Andrea Hospital, University of Rome
Following the pattern used last year, we are celebrating World Suicide Prevention Day 2006 with various activities, coordinated by Dr. Maurizio Pompili, such as a conference with the participation of a number of speakers that will present updated information on suicide prevention strategies and focus on the issue. Special meetings have been organised to educate medical personnel to deal with suicidal patients effectively. Nurses and doctors have been invited to take part in this event which has been divided into two parts. One took place in July and the other will be held in the second week of September. Dr. Pompili has also organised conferences devoted to psychologists and other mental health professionals. He also provided a number of editorials and press releases in order to attract public awareness of the problem. Dr. Pompili is also taking care of events to celebrate the National Suicide Prevention Week 2006 organised by the American Association of Suicidology. He has also been invited to organise events for the World Mental Health Day 2006 (Oct 10) dedicated to suicide.
Japan: Lifelink
Following up on our conference of last year and with the enactment of the Fundamental Law for Suicide Measures this year, Lifelink, with sponsorship from the WHO, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (waiting approval), the Johnson and Johnson Contribution Committee and the Central Research Institute, INC, will be holding an all-day forum for invited specialists at the National Institution for Youth Education, Tokyo. The aim of the forum is to create the framework to realise the initiatives for suicide prevention, research and survivor support provided in this new legislation. The forum will begin with Livelink, an interchange between private suicide-related organisations from throughout Japan and will be followed by three sessions to discuss the grand design for suicide measures, surveys of the current state of suicide prevention measures and creation of a regional network for suicide prevention. The forum will end with a party for all participants to deepen their ties and informally exchange ideas. For further information, please visit our website at http://www.lifelink.or.jp.
México: BENEMÉRITA UNIVERSIDAD AUTONÓMA DE PUEBLA
On 14, September, we have organized an activity at the university autonomous of Puebla, this is titled "Meeting about suicidal tendencies: detection and prevention". This activity is organized by the Faculty of Psychology. In this activity professors and students participate in some round tables, and we have made a poster to spread the activity. On 12 and 13, October, we have organized an event titled: "International seminary of integral attention before suicidal conducts". All the information is at:
New Zealand: Canterbury Suicide Project
- A display has been held (27th August 2006) at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences Research Open Day.
- In Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, the Ministry of Health will organise a display for World Suicide Prevention Day which will include suicide prevention resources and materials. This display will be in the foyer of the Ministry of Health offices.
Norfolk Island, South Pacific: Norfolk Island Hospital Enterprise
I will present the LivingWorks program "Suicide TALK", an exploration in suicide awareness. It aims to create to create a community climate of awareness and and interest in learning more about a wide range of suicide prevention activities. To be held on 10th September. I will also write an article for "The Norfolk Islander" local paper and discuss WSPD in a radio interview for Radio Norfolk.
Norway: LEVE (The Norwegian Organization for Suicide Survivors)
There will be, in the period 10th September - 24th September, an art exhibition outside the City Hall in Oslo. The exhibition will be prints of work of arts sent in from all over Norway, and there will also be an exhibition catalogue free of charge available. The title will be "Å LEVE" ("Living").
Pakistan: Fountain House
Fountain House, Lahore is organizing Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September 2006 at 12:00 noon at Prof. Muhammad Rashid Chaudhry Auditorium, Fountain House, Lahore. Eminent mental health experts, famous TV and film artists, teachers, families of the patients and journalists are going to participate in the event. (Public meeting/Suicide awareness campaign.)
Switzerland: Association STOP SUICIDESTOP SUICIDE
organizes various activities around the World Suicide Prevention Day of September 10th, 2006: - an awareness campaign of the population, thanks to the participation of municipalities (Communes) in the Genevan region; - the distribution of brochures, "prêt-à-prévenir", wanting to indicate various help-places, by "mini-theater" in schools; - the participation in a festival of "electro"-music, aiming at to touch young people. All these activities are turned around various solutions which STOP SUICIDE wishes to advance, because suicide is not a solution.
Turkey: Turkish Air Force Command
Messages from commander/high-rank leaders : Emphasizing the importance of suicide prevention efforts and Air Force Suicide Prevention Program (launched on March 2006); informs leadership at all levels to take an active role in suicide prevention. Flyers and brochures : Informational flyers/brochures about mental health/risk factors; messages to air force members that life problems can be solved by different means ;emphasizing social support, interconnectedness, reducing the barriers to seeking help. (with graphics, phares that catch attention etc.)
United Kingdom: Safer Custody Group, Home Office
Various Prison Service establishments are holding events for staff and/or prisoners to mark World Suicide Day. The chaplaincy team at several establishments (eg. Featherstone, Ford, Camp Hill, Gloucester, and New Hall prisons) will be holding themed services in the prison chapel to mark the day. Other prisons are holding special events with various publicity stalls set up. For example, Glen Parva prison will be inviting prisoners and staff to an event in the chapel, with various stalls set up to include: Samaritans, mental health nurses, gym, drug support. Holloway women's prison in London is planning a fete, with money raised being donated to Samaritans. Kirkham prison is planning to hold a yoga afternoon in the gymnasium for staff and prisoners, and will put on a display to publicise yoga and other methods of stress relief. Stoke Heath Young Offenders Institution will be holding an awareness day, and community partners have been invited to put up stands/displays on what help and support is available for young people both inside and outside the prison.
Friday, September 08, 2006
World Suicide Prevention Day - September 10, 2006 Press Release
From: International Association for Suicide Prevention
World Suicide Prevention Day 2006Held on Sept 10th
At a press conference on September 8, 2006 at the World Health Organization United Nations Offices in New York, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) announced the Fourth World Suicide Prevention Day to be held on September 10, 2006. Throughout the world, national and local events, including conferences, meetings, concerts and activities with spiritual or cultural contents have been organized to enhance understanding about suicide and to demonstrate ways in which knowledge about suicide can be translated into effective suicide prevention programmes. This year’s theme “With Understanding, New Hope” emphasizes the importance of translating our knowledge and understanding of suicide into the development of effective suicide prevention strategies and programmes.
“In this age of preoccupation with global violence, terrorism and homicides, we often ignore the fact that worldwide more people kill themselves than die in all wars, terrorist acts and interpersonal violence combined,” said Professor Brian Mishara, the President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention. “More than a million people worldwide die by suicide each year, many millions make suicide attempts severe enough to need medical treatment and many millions are affected by the disastrous impact of a suicide. We have now developed enough understanding of suicide to prevent a significant proportion of these tragic deaths, to treat suicidal individuals and help families bereaved by suicide. There is a great need to translate our very considerable knowledge about why people attempt to take their lives into effective strategies, policies, programmes and services, to reduce the tragic loss of lives and the devastating effects of suicidal behaviour. Promising areas for suicide prevention include improving mental health treatment and management, educating physicians, restricting access to lethal means of suicide, educating the community, providing help in crisis situations, providing support after suicide attempts and improving media coverage of suicide.”
“We need to use our knowledge to develop coordinated and comprehensive suicide prevention initiatives throughout the world, adapted to local cultures and resources, to reduce the number of completed suicides, suicide attempts and the consequences of suicide and self-destructive behaviours,” said Professor Mishara.
Suicide is the result of a complex interaction of causal factors, including mental illness, poverty, substance abuse, social isolation, losses, relational difficulties and workplace problems. To be effective, suicide prevention needs to incorporate a multi-faceted approach that acknowledges the multiple causes and pathways to suicidal behaviour and involves health and mental health professionals, volunteers, researchers, families and others bereaved by suicide as well as central and local governments, education, justice, police, employers, religious leaders, politicians and the media. “The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day 2006, With Understanding New Hope, is an opportunity for persons with experience in understanding suicidal behaviour, including researchers, clinicians and practitioners, to share their knowledge and highlight ways this knowledge can be applied to suicide prevention activities, programmes and policies. Public forums, educational activities and awareness campaigns throughout the world are being held on September 10. It is our hope that these activities will help change public attitudes and increase awareness and knowledge about suicide as a major public health problem that is preventable,” said Professor Mishara.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention was founded in Vienna in 1960 as a working fellowship of researchers, clinicians, practitioners, volunteers and national and local organizations of many kinds. IASP, in official relation with the World Health Organization and in collaboration with the World Federation for Mental Health, believes that suicide prevention should be given greater priority at national, regional and local levels to incorporate research knowledge that has shown that suicide is preventable. Examples of activities held on this day in different countries are posted on the IASP Website: www.iasp.info.
For further information, contact:
Professor Brian L. Mishara, Ph.D.
President of IASP
Telephone: +1 514 987-4832
e-mail: IASP1960@aol.com
In the Asia Pacific region, you may contact contact:
Professor Annette Beautrais in New ZealandFirst-vice President of IASPe-mail: annette.beautrais@chmeds.ac.nz
World Suicide Prevention Day 2006Held on Sept 10th
At a press conference on September 8, 2006 at the World Health Organization United Nations Offices in New York, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) announced the Fourth World Suicide Prevention Day to be held on September 10, 2006. Throughout the world, national and local events, including conferences, meetings, concerts and activities with spiritual or cultural contents have been organized to enhance understanding about suicide and to demonstrate ways in which knowledge about suicide can be translated into effective suicide prevention programmes. This year’s theme “With Understanding, New Hope” emphasizes the importance of translating our knowledge and understanding of suicide into the development of effective suicide prevention strategies and programmes.
“In this age of preoccupation with global violence, terrorism and homicides, we often ignore the fact that worldwide more people kill themselves than die in all wars, terrorist acts and interpersonal violence combined,” said Professor Brian Mishara, the President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention. “More than a million people worldwide die by suicide each year, many millions make suicide attempts severe enough to need medical treatment and many millions are affected by the disastrous impact of a suicide. We have now developed enough understanding of suicide to prevent a significant proportion of these tragic deaths, to treat suicidal individuals and help families bereaved by suicide. There is a great need to translate our very considerable knowledge about why people attempt to take their lives into effective strategies, policies, programmes and services, to reduce the tragic loss of lives and the devastating effects of suicidal behaviour. Promising areas for suicide prevention include improving mental health treatment and management, educating physicians, restricting access to lethal means of suicide, educating the community, providing help in crisis situations, providing support after suicide attempts and improving media coverage of suicide.”
“We need to use our knowledge to develop coordinated and comprehensive suicide prevention initiatives throughout the world, adapted to local cultures and resources, to reduce the number of completed suicides, suicide attempts and the consequences of suicide and self-destructive behaviours,” said Professor Mishara.
Suicide is the result of a complex interaction of causal factors, including mental illness, poverty, substance abuse, social isolation, losses, relational difficulties and workplace problems. To be effective, suicide prevention needs to incorporate a multi-faceted approach that acknowledges the multiple causes and pathways to suicidal behaviour and involves health and mental health professionals, volunteers, researchers, families and others bereaved by suicide as well as central and local governments, education, justice, police, employers, religious leaders, politicians and the media. “The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day 2006, With Understanding New Hope, is an opportunity for persons with experience in understanding suicidal behaviour, including researchers, clinicians and practitioners, to share their knowledge and highlight ways this knowledge can be applied to suicide prevention activities, programmes and policies. Public forums, educational activities and awareness campaigns throughout the world are being held on September 10. It is our hope that these activities will help change public attitudes and increase awareness and knowledge about suicide as a major public health problem that is preventable,” said Professor Mishara.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention was founded in Vienna in 1960 as a working fellowship of researchers, clinicians, practitioners, volunteers and national and local organizations of many kinds. IASP, in official relation with the World Health Organization and in collaboration with the World Federation for Mental Health, believes that suicide prevention should be given greater priority at national, regional and local levels to incorporate research knowledge that has shown that suicide is preventable. Examples of activities held on this day in different countries are posted on the IASP Website: www.iasp.info.
For further information, contact:
Professor Brian L. Mishara, Ph.D.
President of IASP
Telephone: +1 514 987-4832
e-mail: IASP1960@aol.com
In the Asia Pacific region, you may contact contact:
Professor Annette Beautrais in New ZealandFirst-vice President of IASPe-mail: annette.beautrais@chmeds.ac.nz
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Suicide Prevention and the Internet
From: The Centre for Suicide Prevention
In the last decade, the Internet has experienced a phenomenal growth as technology costs continue to fall and more and more people have mainstream access to the network. Statistics show that the Internet represents an increasingly important medium, especially among adolescents and young adults who use it as a source of information and communication. A recent study by Statistics Canada (2001) showed that 90% of 15-19 year old teenagers had used the Internet in 2000, compared to 53% for the overall population. Since the younger age group is characterized by high suicide rates, it would be wise for the suicide prevention community to capitalize on new Internet-based prevention opportunities while anticipating potential new
challenges.
Suicide Prevention on the Internet
Vulnerable and at-risk individuals accessing the Internet can find useful information and support through a variety of Internet services including: informative websites, discussion or support groups, and one-on-one counselling or support.
1. Web Sites
Websites often represent the first contact for users and the first opportunity for the suicide prevention community to reach out to individuals who may be vulnerable or suicidal. The great majority of websites currently dealing with suicide are thoughtfully designed and offer a wealth of helpful information. Many organizations, like the Centre for Suicide Prevention (www.suicideinfo.ca), provide lists of suicide risk factors, warning signs, and guidelines on how best to respond to a friend or loved one in a suicidal crisis. Individuals at imminent risk for suicide are usually directed to a crisis center or help line in their region. Information about suicide risk and prevention can be widely distributed at low cost to vulnerable people, many of whom may choose not to access more traditional services.
2. Discussion and Support Groups
The Internet also offers a variety of more interactive services to users. News groups (often referred to as discussion groups or bulletin boards) and mailing lists are services which are open to the free exchange of ideas between users. It is now possible for people to share ideas and feelings across vast distances and with enormous numbers of people. Well moderated discussion groups can serve as an opportunity for vulnerable individuals to share emotional struggles and get the social support that may be lacking in their own social network. Used in this way, Internet discussion groups may contribute to a reduction in suicide risk. However, the true effectiveness of online support groups is difficult to measure since there is little chance to assess users’ true experiences in “real life” beyond their input
within the on-line group (Stoney, 1998).
3. One on One Counselling or Support
The Internet also offers an electronic means of communication, the most popular being electronic mail, or e-mail. Internet-based modes of communication represent a new opportunity for the provision of counselling or emotional support to vulnerable individuals by trained volunteers or counselolrs. As with telephone befriending, communication is typically initiated by the vulnerable individual via e-mail or a real-time chat service. Once the initial contact is made, e-mail messages between the at-risk person and the volunteer or counsellor are exchanged over a period of time (Wilson & Lester, 1998). In the case of a chat service, a vulnerable individual can “talk” privately with a counsellor or trained volunteer in real-time. These innovative communication methods offer significant privacy for the client, even more so than with the telephone. Interestingly, preliminary research has shown that the percentage of people who are suicidal is much higher among e-mail contacts than among telephone callers or walk-ins (Bale, 2001; Wilson & Lester, 1998).
Examples of Preventive Internet Services
Youth One: Online Support Group and Crisis Chat. ---Youth One (www.youthone.com) offers Peer Support Forums and Crisis Chat services to the on-line youth community. The monitored Peer Support Forums allow youth to post and receive messages from their on-line peers. Vulnerable youth can also “talk” in real-time with a trained Support Team member through the Crisis Chat service. Between April 2002 and March 2004, the site saw a 275% increase in the use of the Peer Support Forums and close to a 2000% increase in individuals accessing the Crisis Chat
service, many with suicide related concerns (Osbourne, 2004).
Youth in BC: Crisis Chat and E-mail counselling. ---Youth in BC (www.youthinbc.com) is an innovative internet based resource for youth in crisis that has been operating since February 2004. The site presents information on a variety of topics, including suicide, and links vulnerable youth with trained volunteer listeners (who are supported by professional counsellors) through a real-time chat service, e-mail communication, or the more traditional toll-free telephone number (Miller J. et al., 2004).
Samaritans: E-mail counselling.
In 1994, the Samaritans of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland decided to enhance their already well-established befriending services by adding the option of e-mail contact as another means for offering emotional support. A 1999 survey showed that 53% of e-mail contacts had suicidal feelings, compared to 26% of telephone callers. It has also been observed that men are using the e-mail service more than women by ratio of two-to-one (Bale, 2001).
In the last decade, the Internet has experienced a phenomenal growth as technology costs continue to fall and more and more people have mainstream access to the network. Statistics show that the Internet represents an increasingly important medium, especially among adolescents and young adults who use it as a source of information and communication. A recent study by Statistics Canada (2001) showed that 90% of 15-19 year old teenagers had used the Internet in 2000, compared to 53% for the overall population. Since the younger age group is characterized by high suicide rates, it would be wise for the suicide prevention community to capitalize on new Internet-based prevention opportunities while anticipating potential new
challenges.
Suicide Prevention on the Internet
Vulnerable and at-risk individuals accessing the Internet can find useful information and support through a variety of Internet services including: informative websites, discussion or support groups, and one-on-one counselling or support.
1. Web Sites
Websites often represent the first contact for users and the first opportunity for the suicide prevention community to reach out to individuals who may be vulnerable or suicidal. The great majority of websites currently dealing with suicide are thoughtfully designed and offer a wealth of helpful information. Many organizations, like the Centre for Suicide Prevention (www.suicideinfo.ca), provide lists of suicide risk factors, warning signs, and guidelines on how best to respond to a friend or loved one in a suicidal crisis. Individuals at imminent risk for suicide are usually directed to a crisis center or help line in their region. Information about suicide risk and prevention can be widely distributed at low cost to vulnerable people, many of whom may choose not to access more traditional services.
2. Discussion and Support Groups
The Internet also offers a variety of more interactive services to users. News groups (often referred to as discussion groups or bulletin boards) and mailing lists are services which are open to the free exchange of ideas between users. It is now possible for people to share ideas and feelings across vast distances and with enormous numbers of people. Well moderated discussion groups can serve as an opportunity for vulnerable individuals to share emotional struggles and get the social support that may be lacking in their own social network. Used in this way, Internet discussion groups may contribute to a reduction in suicide risk. However, the true effectiveness of online support groups is difficult to measure since there is little chance to assess users’ true experiences in “real life” beyond their input
within the on-line group (Stoney, 1998).
3. One on One Counselling or Support
The Internet also offers an electronic means of communication, the most popular being electronic mail, or e-mail. Internet-based modes of communication represent a new opportunity for the provision of counselling or emotional support to vulnerable individuals by trained volunteers or counselolrs. As with telephone befriending, communication is typically initiated by the vulnerable individual via e-mail or a real-time chat service. Once the initial contact is made, e-mail messages between the at-risk person and the volunteer or counsellor are exchanged over a period of time (Wilson & Lester, 1998). In the case of a chat service, a vulnerable individual can “talk” privately with a counsellor or trained volunteer in real-time. These innovative communication methods offer significant privacy for the client, even more so than with the telephone. Interestingly, preliminary research has shown that the percentage of people who are suicidal is much higher among e-mail contacts than among telephone callers or walk-ins (Bale, 2001; Wilson & Lester, 1998).
Examples of Preventive Internet Services
Youth One: Online Support Group and Crisis Chat. ---Youth One (www.youthone.com) offers Peer Support Forums and Crisis Chat services to the on-line youth community. The monitored Peer Support Forums allow youth to post and receive messages from their on-line peers. Vulnerable youth can also “talk” in real-time with a trained Support Team member through the Crisis Chat service. Between April 2002 and March 2004, the site saw a 275% increase in the use of the Peer Support Forums and close to a 2000% increase in individuals accessing the Crisis Chat
service, many with suicide related concerns (Osbourne, 2004).
Youth in BC: Crisis Chat and E-mail counselling. ---Youth in BC (www.youthinbc.com) is an innovative internet based resource for youth in crisis that has been operating since February 2004. The site presents information on a variety of topics, including suicide, and links vulnerable youth with trained volunteer listeners (who are supported by professional counsellors) through a real-time chat service, e-mail communication, or the more traditional toll-free telephone number (Miller J. et al., 2004).
Samaritans: E-mail counselling.
In 1994, the Samaritans of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland decided to enhance their already well-established befriending services by adding the option of e-mail contact as another means for offering emotional support. A 1999 survey showed that 53% of e-mail contacts had suicidal feelings, compared to 26% of telephone callers. It has also been observed that men are using the e-mail service more than women by ratio of two-to-one (Bale, 2001).
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Preventing Suicide
From: The Canadian Mental Health Association
Suicide. We would rather not talk about it. We hope it will never happen to anyone we know. But suicide is a reality, and it is more common than you might think. The possibility that suicide could claim the life of someone you love cannot be ignored. By paying attention to warning signs and talking about the "unthinkable," you may be able to prevent a death.
Who is at risk?
People likely to commit suicide include those who:
- are having a serious physical or mental illness,
- are abusing alcohol or drugs,
- are experiencing a major loss, such as the death of a loved one, unemployment or divorce,
- are experiencing major changes in their life, such as teenagers and seniors,
- have made previous suicide threats.
Why do people commit suicide?
There are many circumstances which can contribute to someone's decision to end his/her life, but a person's feelings about those circumstances are more important than the circumstances themselves. All people who consider suicide feel that life is unbearable. They have an extreme sense of hopelessness, helplessness, and desperation. With some types of mental illness, people may hear voices or have delusions which prompt them to kill themselves.
People who talk about committing suicide or make an attempt do not necessarily want to die. Often, they are reaching out for help. Sometimes, a suicide attempt becomes the turning point in a person's life if there is enough support to help him/her make necessary changes.
If someone you know is feeling desperate enough to commit suicide, you may be able to help him/her find a better way to cope. If you yourself are so distressed that you cannot think of any way out except by "ending it all," remember, help for your problems is available.
What are the danger signs?
Some warning signs that a person may be suicidal include:
- repeated expressions of hopelessness, helplessness, or desperation,
- behaviour that is out of character, such as recklessness in someone who is normally careful,
- signs of depression - sleeplessness, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, loss of interest in usual activities,
- a sudden and unexpected change to a cheerful attitude,
- giving away prized possessions to friends and family,
- making a will, taking out insurance, or other preparations for death, such as telling final wishes to someone close,
- making remarks related to death and dying, or an expressed intent to commit suicide. An expressed intent to commit suicide should always be taken very seriously.
Prevent a suicide attempt
If you are concerned that someone may be suicidal, take action. If possible, talk with the person directly. The single-most important thing you can do is listen attentively without judgement.
Talking about suicide can only decrease the likelihood that someone will act on suicidal feelings. There is almost no risk that raising the topic with someone who is not considering suicide will prompt him/her to do it.
Find a safe place to talk with the person, and allow as much time as necessary. Assure him/her of your concern and your respect for his/her privacy. Ask the person about recent events, and encourage him/her to express his/her feelings freely. Do not minimize the feelings involved.
Ask whether the person feels desperate enough to consider suicide. If the answer is yes, ask, "Do you have a plan? How and where do you intend to kill yourself?"
Admit your own concern and fear if the person tells you that he/she is thinking about suicide but do not react by saying, 'You shouldn't be having these thoughts; things can't be that bad." Remember, you are being trusted with someone's deepest feelings. Although it may upset you, talking about those feeling will bring the person relief.
Ask if there is anything you can do. Talk about resources that can be drawn on (family, friends, community agencies, crisis centres) to provide support, practical assistance, counselling or treatment.
Make a plan with the person for the next few hours or days. Make contacts with him/her or on his/her behalf. If possible, go with the person to get help.
Let the person know when you can be available, and then make sure you are available at those times. Also, make sure your limits are known, and try to arrange that there is always someone that he/she can call at any time of day.
Ask who else knows about the suicidal feelings. Are there other people who should know? Is the person willing to tell them? Unfortunately, not everyone will treat this issue sensitively. Confidentiality is important, but do not keep the situation secret if a life is clearly in danger.
Stay in touch to see how he/she is doing. Praise the person for having the courage to trust you and for continuing to live and struggle.
What to do following a suicide attempt
A person may try to commit suicide without warning or despite efforts to help. If you are involved in giving first aid, make every effort to be calm and reassuring, and get medical help immediately.
The time following an attempt is critical. The person should receive intensive care during this time. Maintain regular contact, and work with the person to organize support. It is vital that he/she does not feel cut off or shunned as a result of attempting suicide.
Be aware that, if someone is intent on dying, you may not be able to stop it from happening. You cannot and should not carry the responsibility for someone else's choice.
What can you do if you are feeling suicidal?
The beginning of the way out is to let someone else in. This is very hard to do because, if you feel so desperate that suicide seems to be the only solution, you are likely very frightened and ashamed. There is no reason to be ashamed of feeling suicidal and no reason to feel ashamed for seeking help. You are not alone; many people have felt suicidal when facing difficult times and have survived, usually returning to quite normal lives.
Take the risk of telling your feelings to someone you know and trust: a relative, friend, social service worker, or a member of the clergy for your religion. There are many ways to cope and get support. The sense of desperation and the wish to die will not go away at once, but it will pass. Regaining your will to live is more important than anything else at the moment.
Some things that you can do are:
- call a crisis telephone support line,
- draw on the support of family and friends,
- talk to your family doctor; he/she can refer you to services in the community, including counselling and hospital services,
- set up frequent appointments with a mental health professional, and request telephone support between appointments,
- get involved in self-help groups,
- talk every day to at least one person you trust about how you are feeling,
- think about seeking help from the emergency department of a local hospital,
- talk to someone who has 'been there" about what it was like and how he/she coped,
- avoid making major decisions which you may later regret
Do you need more help?
If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal and you need more information about resources in your area, contact a community organization, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, which can help you find additional support.
Suicide. We would rather not talk about it. We hope it will never happen to anyone we know. But suicide is a reality, and it is more common than you might think. The possibility that suicide could claim the life of someone you love cannot be ignored. By paying attention to warning signs and talking about the "unthinkable," you may be able to prevent a death.
Who is at risk?
People likely to commit suicide include those who:
- are having a serious physical or mental illness,
- are abusing alcohol or drugs,
- are experiencing a major loss, such as the death of a loved one, unemployment or divorce,
- are experiencing major changes in their life, such as teenagers and seniors,
- have made previous suicide threats.
Why do people commit suicide?
There are many circumstances which can contribute to someone's decision to end his/her life, but a person's feelings about those circumstances are more important than the circumstances themselves. All people who consider suicide feel that life is unbearable. They have an extreme sense of hopelessness, helplessness, and desperation. With some types of mental illness, people may hear voices or have delusions which prompt them to kill themselves.
People who talk about committing suicide or make an attempt do not necessarily want to die. Often, they are reaching out for help. Sometimes, a suicide attempt becomes the turning point in a person's life if there is enough support to help him/her make necessary changes.
If someone you know is feeling desperate enough to commit suicide, you may be able to help him/her find a better way to cope. If you yourself are so distressed that you cannot think of any way out except by "ending it all," remember, help for your problems is available.
What are the danger signs?
Some warning signs that a person may be suicidal include:
- repeated expressions of hopelessness, helplessness, or desperation,
- behaviour that is out of character, such as recklessness in someone who is normally careful,
- signs of depression - sleeplessness, social withdrawal, loss of appetite, loss of interest in usual activities,
- a sudden and unexpected change to a cheerful attitude,
- giving away prized possessions to friends and family,
- making a will, taking out insurance, or other preparations for death, such as telling final wishes to someone close,
- making remarks related to death and dying, or an expressed intent to commit suicide. An expressed intent to commit suicide should always be taken very seriously.
Prevent a suicide attempt
If you are concerned that someone may be suicidal, take action. If possible, talk with the person directly. The single-most important thing you can do is listen attentively without judgement.
Talking about suicide can only decrease the likelihood that someone will act on suicidal feelings. There is almost no risk that raising the topic with someone who is not considering suicide will prompt him/her to do it.
Find a safe place to talk with the person, and allow as much time as necessary. Assure him/her of your concern and your respect for his/her privacy. Ask the person about recent events, and encourage him/her to express his/her feelings freely. Do not minimize the feelings involved.
Ask whether the person feels desperate enough to consider suicide. If the answer is yes, ask, "Do you have a plan? How and where do you intend to kill yourself?"
Admit your own concern and fear if the person tells you that he/she is thinking about suicide but do not react by saying, 'You shouldn't be having these thoughts; things can't be that bad." Remember, you are being trusted with someone's deepest feelings. Although it may upset you, talking about those feeling will bring the person relief.
Ask if there is anything you can do. Talk about resources that can be drawn on (family, friends, community agencies, crisis centres) to provide support, practical assistance, counselling or treatment.
Make a plan with the person for the next few hours or days. Make contacts with him/her or on his/her behalf. If possible, go with the person to get help.
Let the person know when you can be available, and then make sure you are available at those times. Also, make sure your limits are known, and try to arrange that there is always someone that he/she can call at any time of day.
Ask who else knows about the suicidal feelings. Are there other people who should know? Is the person willing to tell them? Unfortunately, not everyone will treat this issue sensitively. Confidentiality is important, but do not keep the situation secret if a life is clearly in danger.
Stay in touch to see how he/she is doing. Praise the person for having the courage to trust you and for continuing to live and struggle.
What to do following a suicide attempt
A person may try to commit suicide without warning or despite efforts to help. If you are involved in giving first aid, make every effort to be calm and reassuring, and get medical help immediately.
The time following an attempt is critical. The person should receive intensive care during this time. Maintain regular contact, and work with the person to organize support. It is vital that he/she does not feel cut off or shunned as a result of attempting suicide.
Be aware that, if someone is intent on dying, you may not be able to stop it from happening. You cannot and should not carry the responsibility for someone else's choice.
What can you do if you are feeling suicidal?
The beginning of the way out is to let someone else in. This is very hard to do because, if you feel so desperate that suicide seems to be the only solution, you are likely very frightened and ashamed. There is no reason to be ashamed of feeling suicidal and no reason to feel ashamed for seeking help. You are not alone; many people have felt suicidal when facing difficult times and have survived, usually returning to quite normal lives.
Take the risk of telling your feelings to someone you know and trust: a relative, friend, social service worker, or a member of the clergy for your religion. There are many ways to cope and get support. The sense of desperation and the wish to die will not go away at once, but it will pass. Regaining your will to live is more important than anything else at the moment.
Some things that you can do are:
- call a crisis telephone support line,
- draw on the support of family and friends,
- talk to your family doctor; he/she can refer you to services in the community, including counselling and hospital services,
- set up frequent appointments with a mental health professional, and request telephone support between appointments,
- get involved in self-help groups,
- talk every day to at least one person you trust about how you are feeling,
- think about seeking help from the emergency department of a local hospital,
- talk to someone who has 'been there" about what it was like and how he/she coped,
- avoid making major decisions which you may later regret
Do you need more help?
If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal and you need more information about resources in your area, contact a community organization, such as the Canadian Mental Health Association, which can help you find additional support.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
World Suicide Prevention Day - September 10, 2006
From the Canadian Health Network
World Suicide Prevention Day is organized on September 10 each year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to draw world attention to one of the world's largest public health problems.
With understanding, new hope is the theme for 2006. This year focuses on the need to take current research and knowledge on suicidal behaviour and translate it into practical programmes and activities that can save lives.
Despite our increasing knowledge about the causes and consequences of suicidal behaviour, our understanding of what works best in preventing suicide is relatively underdeveloped.
Facts about suicide:
- About one million lives are lost each to suicide each year.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death, particularly in young people.
- More lives are lost to suicide around the world each year than from all wars and homicides.
- Depression is one of the risk factors for suicide.
Preventing suicide—who can help?
To be effective, suicide prevention will require a response from the entire community, including researchers, health practitioners, community and social service workers, governments, police and legal systems, religious organizations, educators and employers.
There are many ways to get involved:
- Organize an event or launch an initiative to raise awareness on suicide.
- Hold a press conference to highlight research findings.
- Hold training courses on the causes of suicide.
For more ideas, and to see a sample of activities around the world, visit the website for World Suicide Prevention Day 2006, or the Centre for Suicide Prevention.
World Suicide Prevention Day is organized on September 10 each year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to draw world attention to one of the world's largest public health problems.
With understanding, new hope is the theme for 2006. This year focuses on the need to take current research and knowledge on suicidal behaviour and translate it into practical programmes and activities that can save lives.
Despite our increasing knowledge about the causes and consequences of suicidal behaviour, our understanding of what works best in preventing suicide is relatively underdeveloped.
Facts about suicide:
- About one million lives are lost each to suicide each year.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death, particularly in young people.
- More lives are lost to suicide around the world each year than from all wars and homicides.
- Depression is one of the risk factors for suicide.
Preventing suicide—who can help?
To be effective, suicide prevention will require a response from the entire community, including researchers, health practitioners, community and social service workers, governments, police and legal systems, religious organizations, educators and employers.
There are many ways to get involved:
- Organize an event or launch an initiative to raise awareness on suicide.
- Hold a press conference to highlight research findings.
- Hold training courses on the causes of suicide.
For more ideas, and to see a sample of activities around the world, visit the website for World Suicide Prevention Day 2006, or the Centre for Suicide Prevention.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Considering Suicide?
Considering suicide: Don't let despair obscure other options
MayoClinic, April 15, 2004
Depression and hopelessness can cloud your thinking, and you may consider taking your own life. Learn about healthy coping strategies to get through a crisis.
When life doesn't seem worth living anymore or your problems seem insurmountable, you may think that the only way to find relief is through suicide.
You might not believe it, but you do have other options, options to stay alive and feel better about your life. Maybe you think you've already tried them all and now you've had enough. Or maybe you think your family and friends would be better off without you.
It's OK to feel bad, but try to separate your emotions from your actions for the moment. Realize that depression, other mental disorders or long-lasting despair can distort your perceptions and impair your ability to make sound decisions. Suicidal feelings are the result of treatable illnesses. So, try to act as if there are other options, even if you may not see them right now.
No, it probably won't be easy. You may not feel better overnight. Eventually, though, the sense of hopelessness can lift. You can find support, appropriate treatment and reasons for living.
When you need immediate help
If you're considering suicide right now and have the means available, contact someone for help. The best choice is to call 911 or your local emergency services number.
If you simply don't want to do that, for whatever reason, you have other choices for reaching out to someone:
-Contact a family member or friend.
-Contact a doctor, mental health professional or other health care professional.
-Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.
-Go to your local hospital emergency room.
-Call a crisis center or hot line.
Crisis centers or suicide hotlines are often listed in the front of your phone book or on the Internet. They offer trained counselors, usually volunteers, who can help you through an immediate crisis. Some crisis centers with an Internet presence offer e-mail contact, but remember that responses may not be as prompt as with telephone support.
Talking to someone about your feelings, connecting with them, can help relieve the burden of despair and isolation, even temporarily. It may help you shift perspective and more clearly see your other options.
Daily coping strategies
You may struggle with suicidal feelings frequently, perhaps many times a day. Develop a strategy to cope with those feelings in a healthy way. Consider asking a doctor, family member or friend to help create a strategy tailored to your specific situation.
It may mean doing things you don't feel like doing, such as talking to friends when you'd rather hole up in your bedroom all day with the curtains drawn, or going to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. But stick to your strategy, especially when you're in the grips of despair and hopelessness.
As part of your strategy, consider these measures:
-Keep a list of contact names and numbers readily available, including doctors, therapists and crisis centers.
-If your suicide plans include taking an overdose, give your medications to someone who can safeguard them for you and help you take them appropriately.
-Rid your home of knives, guns, razors or other weapons you may consider using for self-destructive purposes.
-Schedule daily activities for yourself that have brought you even small pleasure in the past, such as taking a walk, listening to music, watching a funny movie, knitting or visiting a museum. If they no longer bring you at least a modicum of joy, however, try something different, particularly if these familiar activities induce painful reminders.
-Get together with others, even if you don't feel like it, to prevent isolation.
Avoid drug and alcohol use. Rather than numb painful feelings, alcohol and drugs can increase the likelihood of harming yourself by making you more impulsive, more open to giving in to self-destructive or despairing thoughts.
-Write about your thoughts and feelings. Remember to also write about the things in your life that you value and appreciate, no matter how small they may seem to you.
Some organizations recommend creating a "plan for life" or similar plan of action that you can refer to when you are considering suicide or are in a crisis. This is a checklist of activities or actions you promise yourself to take in order to keep yourself alive or stay on course with treatment. For instance, it may stipulate that you contact certain people when you begin considering suicide. It may also include commitments to take medication appropriately, attend treatment sessions or appointments, and to remind yourself that your life is valuable even if you don't feel it is.
Also, consider creating a list of specific activities to try when you're feeling suicidal or just feeling bad. The key is to engage in self-soothing for a range of negative feelings, not just when you reach the point of suicidal thoughts. Make sure they're activities that would normally offer enjoyment and that can help comfort you, not cause additional stress. Then, do each item on your list until you feel like you can go on living. It can include such things as:
-Practicing deep-breathing exercises
-Playing an instrument
-Taking a hot bath
-Eating your favorite food
-Writing in a journal
-Going for a walk
-Contacting family, friends or other trusted confidantes
Even if the immediate crisis passes, consult a doctor or mental health professional, or seek help through an emergency room if your area isn't served by mental health professionals. They can help make sure you're getting appropriate treatment. Medication and psychotherapy, either individual or group, are often effective treatments for depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other mental disorders, and they can help you feel better about yourself and your life. Although you may not want to consider psychiatric hospitalization, it can help protect you and give medication and psychotherapy a chance to work more effectively.
Seeing beyond the despair
The despair and hopelessness you feel as you consider suicide may be the side effects of illnesses that can be treated. These emotions can be so overpowering that they cloud your judgment and lead you to believe that taking your own life is the best, or only, option.
But even people with long-standing suicidal thoughts can learn to manage them and to develop a more satisfying life through effective coping strategies. Take an active role in saving your own life, just as you would help someone else. Enlisting others for support can help you see that you have other options and give you hope about the future. Suicide isn't a solution, it's an ending.
MayoClinic, April 15, 2004
Depression and hopelessness can cloud your thinking, and you may consider taking your own life. Learn about healthy coping strategies to get through a crisis.
When life doesn't seem worth living anymore or your problems seem insurmountable, you may think that the only way to find relief is through suicide.
You might not believe it, but you do have other options, options to stay alive and feel better about your life. Maybe you think you've already tried them all and now you've had enough. Or maybe you think your family and friends would be better off without you.
It's OK to feel bad, but try to separate your emotions from your actions for the moment. Realize that depression, other mental disorders or long-lasting despair can distort your perceptions and impair your ability to make sound decisions. Suicidal feelings are the result of treatable illnesses. So, try to act as if there are other options, even if you may not see them right now.
No, it probably won't be easy. You may not feel better overnight. Eventually, though, the sense of hopelessness can lift. You can find support, appropriate treatment and reasons for living.
When you need immediate help
If you're considering suicide right now and have the means available, contact someone for help. The best choice is to call 911 or your local emergency services number.
If you simply don't want to do that, for whatever reason, you have other choices for reaching out to someone:
-Contact a family member or friend.
-Contact a doctor, mental health professional or other health care professional.
-Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.
-Go to your local hospital emergency room.
-Call a crisis center or hot line.
Crisis centers or suicide hotlines are often listed in the front of your phone book or on the Internet. They offer trained counselors, usually volunteers, who can help you through an immediate crisis. Some crisis centers with an Internet presence offer e-mail contact, but remember that responses may not be as prompt as with telephone support.
Talking to someone about your feelings, connecting with them, can help relieve the burden of despair and isolation, even temporarily. It may help you shift perspective and more clearly see your other options.
Daily coping strategies
You may struggle with suicidal feelings frequently, perhaps many times a day. Develop a strategy to cope with those feelings in a healthy way. Consider asking a doctor, family member or friend to help create a strategy tailored to your specific situation.
It may mean doing things you don't feel like doing, such as talking to friends when you'd rather hole up in your bedroom all day with the curtains drawn, or going to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. But stick to your strategy, especially when you're in the grips of despair and hopelessness.
As part of your strategy, consider these measures:
-Keep a list of contact names and numbers readily available, including doctors, therapists and crisis centers.
-If your suicide plans include taking an overdose, give your medications to someone who can safeguard them for you and help you take them appropriately.
-Rid your home of knives, guns, razors or other weapons you may consider using for self-destructive purposes.
-Schedule daily activities for yourself that have brought you even small pleasure in the past, such as taking a walk, listening to music, watching a funny movie, knitting or visiting a museum. If they no longer bring you at least a modicum of joy, however, try something different, particularly if these familiar activities induce painful reminders.
-Get together with others, even if you don't feel like it, to prevent isolation.
Avoid drug and alcohol use. Rather than numb painful feelings, alcohol and drugs can increase the likelihood of harming yourself by making you more impulsive, more open to giving in to self-destructive or despairing thoughts.
-Write about your thoughts and feelings. Remember to also write about the things in your life that you value and appreciate, no matter how small they may seem to you.
Some organizations recommend creating a "plan for life" or similar plan of action that you can refer to when you are considering suicide or are in a crisis. This is a checklist of activities or actions you promise yourself to take in order to keep yourself alive or stay on course with treatment. For instance, it may stipulate that you contact certain people when you begin considering suicide. It may also include commitments to take medication appropriately, attend treatment sessions or appointments, and to remind yourself that your life is valuable even if you don't feel it is.
Also, consider creating a list of specific activities to try when you're feeling suicidal or just feeling bad. The key is to engage in self-soothing for a range of negative feelings, not just when you reach the point of suicidal thoughts. Make sure they're activities that would normally offer enjoyment and that can help comfort you, not cause additional stress. Then, do each item on your list until you feel like you can go on living. It can include such things as:
-Practicing deep-breathing exercises
-Playing an instrument
-Taking a hot bath
-Eating your favorite food
-Writing in a journal
-Going for a walk
-Contacting family, friends or other trusted confidantes
Even if the immediate crisis passes, consult a doctor or mental health professional, or seek help through an emergency room if your area isn't served by mental health professionals. They can help make sure you're getting appropriate treatment. Medication and psychotherapy, either individual or group, are often effective treatments for depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other mental disorders, and they can help you feel better about yourself and your life. Although you may not want to consider psychiatric hospitalization, it can help protect you and give medication and psychotherapy a chance to work more effectively.
Seeing beyond the despair
The despair and hopelessness you feel as you consider suicide may be the side effects of illnesses that can be treated. These emotions can be so overpowering that they cloud your judgment and lead you to believe that taking your own life is the best, or only, option.
But even people with long-standing suicidal thoughts can learn to manage them and to develop a more satisfying life through effective coping strategies. Take an active role in saving your own life, just as you would help someone else. Enlisting others for support can help you see that you have other options and give you hope about the future. Suicide isn't a solution, it's an ending.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Housing and Mental Illness
Link: Housing and Mental Illness
It is estimated that 1/3 of the homeless population suffers from some form of mental illness.
This number increases to 75% for homeless single women.
Homelessness is not considered a major cause of mental illness but does increase its' duration and severity.
Two thirds of the homeless will have a lifetime experience with mental illness, three times higher than the general population.
75% of homeless people with mental illness will also have a substance abuse problem.
Correctional facilities are increasingly becoming ‘home’ to people with serious mental illness who are more likely to be detected and arrested and incarcerated for non-violent and nuisance offences. There is widespread agreement that people with mental disorders are increasingly and often unintentionally, caught in the justice system.
It is estimated that 1/3 of the homeless population suffers from some form of mental illness.
This number increases to 75% for homeless single women.
Homelessness is not considered a major cause of mental illness but does increase its' duration and severity.
Two thirds of the homeless will have a lifetime experience with mental illness, three times higher than the general population.
75% of homeless people with mental illness will also have a substance abuse problem.
Correctional facilities are increasingly becoming ‘home’ to people with serious mental illness who are more likely to be detected and arrested and incarcerated for non-violent and nuisance offences. There is widespread agreement that people with mental disorders are increasingly and often unintentionally, caught in the justice system.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
What Causes Depression?
Link to: What Causes Depression?
We still do not know for sure what causes depression. However, research suggests there may be more than one cause and most likely, it is a combination of factors, which leaves some individuals more vulnerable to developing a depressive disorder. The "kindling theory" suggests that the more factors that combine together the more at risk an individual is to developing a major depressive illness.
Some known factors, which contribute to depression, include:
We still do not know for sure what causes depression. However, research suggests there may be more than one cause and most likely, it is a combination of factors, which leaves some individuals more vulnerable to developing a depressive disorder. The "kindling theory" suggests that the more factors that combine together the more at risk an individual is to developing a major depressive illness.
Some known factors, which contribute to depression, include:
Genetic factors- depression does runs in families.
Medical research demonstrates that people with depression have a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters, the important chemical messengers in the brain.
A history of childhood physical and emotional abuse, trauma, or parental loss is associated with higher rates of depression.
Women are twice as likely to develop depression, which can be associated menstruation, childbirth, and menopause suggesting hormones may play a role.
There are times in life when family and work pressures are higher and during which time people are more likely to get depressed.
Depression can follow significant losses such as the death of a loved one, an unexpected job loss, or retirement.
Depression is also strongly associated with medical illness and chronic disability.
Temperament and personality also plays a role. Those who are more pessimistic and negative in their interpretation of life events, less resilient to change, perfectionist and lack a supportive social network are at greater risk of developing depression.
Some prescription and non-prescription drugs are also known to cause depression by interfering with important brain neurotransmitters.
Depression is also found to be more common in those with low income, are unemployed, unmarried or divorced.
Alcohol is a known central nervous system depressant and prolonged use is associated with a greater incidence of depression.
http://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Clinical_Guidelines/depression/clinicalGuidelinesDepression.asp
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Facts About Mental Illness In The Workplace
Link to: Facts About Mental Illness In The Workplace
o Percentage of Canadian employers who consider the continuous rise in employees’ mental health claims to be a top concern: 56%
o Percentage of short term disability claims related to mental illness in Canada: 75%
o Percentage of long term disability claims related to mental illness in Canada: 79%
o Percentage increase in long term disability costs: 27%
o Percentage of employers who track disability claims costs as a percentage of payroll: 28%
o Percentage of employers who have plans to address mental health and mental illness in the workplace: 31%
o Fastest growing category of disability costs to Canadian employers: Depression
o Annual losses to the Canadian economy due to mental illness in the workplace: $33 billion
o Amount employer will save, per employee per year, for those who get treatment: from $5000 - $10,000 in average wage replacement, sick leave and prescription drug costs.
Source: Mental Health Works, Mental health facts. Available at:
http://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/facts/index.asp
o Percentage of people with serious mental illness who are unemployed: 70 – 90%
o Percentage of people with serious mental illness who want to work: 80%
Source: World Health Organization (2000). Mental health and work:
Impact, issues and good practices. Available at: www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/712.pdf
o Percentage of Canadian employers who consider the continuous rise in employees’ mental health claims to be a top concern: 56%
o Percentage of short term disability claims related to mental illness in Canada: 75%
o Percentage of long term disability claims related to mental illness in Canada: 79%
o Percentage increase in long term disability costs: 27%
o Percentage of employers who track disability claims costs as a percentage of payroll: 28%
o Percentage of employers who have plans to address mental health and mental illness in the workplace: 31%
Source: Mental health claims on the rise in Canada: Watson Wyatt’s
Staying @ Work Survey (Sept 2005). Available at: www.watsonwyatt.com/canada
Staying @ Work Survey (Sept 2005). Available at: www.watsonwyatt.com/canada
o Fastest growing category of disability costs to Canadian employers: Depression
o Annual losses to the Canadian economy due to mental illness in the workplace: $33 billion
o Amount employer will save, per employee per year, for those who get treatment: from $5000 - $10,000 in average wage replacement, sick leave and prescription drug costs.
Source: Mental Health Works, Mental health facts. Available at:
http://www.mentalhealthworks.ca/facts/index.asp
o Percentage of people with serious mental illness who are unemployed: 70 – 90%
o Percentage of people with serious mental illness who want to work: 80%
Source: World Health Organization (2000). Mental health and work:
Impact, issues and good practices. Available at: www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/712.pdf
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Stigma has serious health and social consequences
Link: Stigma has serious health and social consequences
· Mental illness and addiction is common (one in five Canadians) however because of stigma and the fear of discrimination only one third seek treatment. [ii]
· People deny painful symptoms and are reluctant to seek help at an early, more treatable phase of their condition, resulting in delays in beneficial treatment making treatment more complicated, less effective resulting in greater disability.
· The drop-out rate for psychiatric treatment is estimated to be one half because people do not want to be seen attending psychiatric treatment - leading to relapse and greater disability. [iii]
· People with mental illness and addictions often hold the same negative attitudes of society at large and blame themselves for their illness and the resulting social and economic losses.
· The major way people cope with the effects of self-stigma and shame is by withholding information from family, friends, employers and treatment providers, leading to feelings of emptiness, alienation and rejection which can further trigger depression and substance abuse and relapse. [iv]
· Consumers expect to be rejected by the community. This perception interferes with their sense of belonging and is more acutely felt by those with less social support and greater social skills deficit. [v]
· Stigma, discrimination and the resultant social withdrawal has been found to have a greater impact on the quality of life than the actual symptoms of illness. The loss of friendships and socio-economic status affects people long after their symptoms are treated.
· The elderly experience the double stigma of being old and mentally ill. Although they have high levels of illness they are also the least likely to seek medical treatment because of feelings of embarrassment and shame. They also have the lowest rates of detection of a mental illness because the belief that depression and anxiety are a normal part of the aging process[vi].[vii]
· Family members are also harmed by stigma and are blamed for causing or contributing to the illness with the result that they will also withdraw from social engagement, become isolated and experience higher levels of depression, anxiety and substance abuse.[viii]
· Community attitudes and discriminatory behaviours can negatively influence the degree and speed of recovery.
· Mental Health professionals are also stigmatized holding a diminished status in the eyes of other medical professions making recruitment challenging.[ix], [x]
· Many mental health professionals share negative attitudes towards people with mental illness and addictions and hold a reduced belief in their capacity to work, cope with stress, achieve advanced education or make a contribution to their community. These diminished views contribute to propagating self-stigma.
· The diminished attitude towards consumers is applied to self-help and peer-support programs. Identified as an element of ‘best practice’ this modality is ignored by clinicians, consistently under-funded by governments, and an under researched area of practice.
· People with mental disabilities suffer “double disadvantage”, having to cope not only with the disability itself, but with the added burdens of compromised health and inaccessible, inadequate health-related services. People with mental illness and addictions are less likely to be treated for medical conditions and research identified that they are more vulnerable to poverty and not treated equitably across health care systems.[xi], [xii]
· Institutions, governments and policy makers also contribute to stigma by systematically under-funding mental health and addictions services proportional to their degree of prevalence, morbidity and mortality.
· Discrimination towards people with mental illness and addictions is widespread resulting in diminished employment opportunities and educational opportunities including unemployment, lack of career advancement, hostility in the workplace resulting in increased self-stigma and increased disability. Although most people with mental illness and addictions are willing and able to work the rate of unemployment is estimated to be between 80% and 90%.[xiii]
· Discrimination is also experienced through a loss of human rights including forced treatment, finding or keeping housing, the right to parent, access to loans, immigration, denial of insurance coverage, and over representation in the criminal justice system.
· Stigma contributes to persistent under-funding of research and treatment services. Despite extremely high burden of illness, research funding has lagged behind other diseases such as cancer and heart disease when considering morbidity and mortality. This is particularly true in research about addictions and co-occurring disorders. [xiv]
· Canada’s Aboriginal, Inuit and First Nations Communities suffer a disproportionate burden of the stigma and discrimination of mental illness, mental health and addictions that exists.
· Stigma and discrimination occurs in many different guises throughout Canada, in our urban centres, our rural communities, our ethnic communities, among others and thus, regional consultations are a necessity.
· Mental illness and addiction is common (one in five Canadians) however because of stigma and the fear of discrimination only one third seek treatment. [ii]
· People deny painful symptoms and are reluctant to seek help at an early, more treatable phase of their condition, resulting in delays in beneficial treatment making treatment more complicated, less effective resulting in greater disability.
· The drop-out rate for psychiatric treatment is estimated to be one half because people do not want to be seen attending psychiatric treatment - leading to relapse and greater disability. [iii]
· People with mental illness and addictions often hold the same negative attitudes of society at large and blame themselves for their illness and the resulting social and economic losses.
· The major way people cope with the effects of self-stigma and shame is by withholding information from family, friends, employers and treatment providers, leading to feelings of emptiness, alienation and rejection which can further trigger depression and substance abuse and relapse. [iv]
· Consumers expect to be rejected by the community. This perception interferes with their sense of belonging and is more acutely felt by those with less social support and greater social skills deficit. [v]
· Stigma, discrimination and the resultant social withdrawal has been found to have a greater impact on the quality of life than the actual symptoms of illness. The loss of friendships and socio-economic status affects people long after their symptoms are treated.
· The elderly experience the double stigma of being old and mentally ill. Although they have high levels of illness they are also the least likely to seek medical treatment because of feelings of embarrassment and shame. They also have the lowest rates of detection of a mental illness because the belief that depression and anxiety are a normal part of the aging process[vi].[vii]
· Family members are also harmed by stigma and are blamed for causing or contributing to the illness with the result that they will also withdraw from social engagement, become isolated and experience higher levels of depression, anxiety and substance abuse.[viii]
· Community attitudes and discriminatory behaviours can negatively influence the degree and speed of recovery.
· Mental Health professionals are also stigmatized holding a diminished status in the eyes of other medical professions making recruitment challenging.[ix], [x]
· Many mental health professionals share negative attitudes towards people with mental illness and addictions and hold a reduced belief in their capacity to work, cope with stress, achieve advanced education or make a contribution to their community. These diminished views contribute to propagating self-stigma.
· The diminished attitude towards consumers is applied to self-help and peer-support programs. Identified as an element of ‘best practice’ this modality is ignored by clinicians, consistently under-funded by governments, and an under researched area of practice.
· People with mental disabilities suffer “double disadvantage”, having to cope not only with the disability itself, but with the added burdens of compromised health and inaccessible, inadequate health-related services. People with mental illness and addictions are less likely to be treated for medical conditions and research identified that they are more vulnerable to poverty and not treated equitably across health care systems.[xi], [xii]
· Institutions, governments and policy makers also contribute to stigma by systematically under-funding mental health and addictions services proportional to their degree of prevalence, morbidity and mortality.
· Discrimination towards people with mental illness and addictions is widespread resulting in diminished employment opportunities and educational opportunities including unemployment, lack of career advancement, hostility in the workplace resulting in increased self-stigma and increased disability. Although most people with mental illness and addictions are willing and able to work the rate of unemployment is estimated to be between 80% and 90%.[xiii]
· Discrimination is also experienced through a loss of human rights including forced treatment, finding or keeping housing, the right to parent, access to loans, immigration, denial of insurance coverage, and over representation in the criminal justice system.
· Stigma contributes to persistent under-funding of research and treatment services. Despite extremely high burden of illness, research funding has lagged behind other diseases such as cancer and heart disease when considering morbidity and mortality. This is particularly true in research about addictions and co-occurring disorders. [xiv]
· Canada’s Aboriginal, Inuit and First Nations Communities suffer a disproportionate burden of the stigma and discrimination of mental illness, mental health and addictions that exists.
· Stigma and discrimination occurs in many different guises throughout Canada, in our urban centres, our rural communities, our ethnic communities, among others and thus, regional consultations are a necessity.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Befriending: The Hug Drug
The Hug Drug
by Natasha Raymond, Psychology Today
It just may be that no drug is more effective than a good, meaningful chat. A British study has demonstrated the healing power of friendship.
A group of chronically depressed women living in London were randomly assigned to receive a volunteer "befriender" or were placed on a waiting list for one. The befrienders were instructed to be confidants to the depressed women, meeting them regularly for chats over coffee or outings.
Tirril Harris, of Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' schools of medicine in London reports that among the women who saw their volunteer friends regularly throughout the year, 72 percent experienced a remission in depression compared with just 45 percent in the control group. That's about the same success rate as antidepressants or cognitive therapy, says Harris.
The women who benefitted most from the friendship prescription typically experienced some kind of "fresh start": they reconnected or made amends with a person who was estranged from them, or left an unpleasant job for another that seemed more promising.
In one case, Janet, a depressed woman who took part in the study, had been working overtime for no extra pay. Her befriender pointed out that this was unfair and suggested she ask for compensation. Janet approached her boss, who was "amenable and apologetic," Harris recalls. "These types of experiences—an acknowledgment of respect—made the formerly depressed women feel differently about themselves and about the world."
Publication: Psychology Today Magazine
Publication Date: Nov/Dec 1999
by Natasha Raymond, Psychology Today
It just may be that no drug is more effective than a good, meaningful chat. A British study has demonstrated the healing power of friendship.
A group of chronically depressed women living in London were randomly assigned to receive a volunteer "befriender" or were placed on a waiting list for one. The befrienders were instructed to be confidants to the depressed women, meeting them regularly for chats over coffee or outings.
Tirril Harris, of Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' schools of medicine in London reports that among the women who saw their volunteer friends regularly throughout the year, 72 percent experienced a remission in depression compared with just 45 percent in the control group. That's about the same success rate as antidepressants or cognitive therapy, says Harris.
The women who benefitted most from the friendship prescription typically experienced some kind of "fresh start": they reconnected or made amends with a person who was estranged from them, or left an unpleasant job for another that seemed more promising.
In one case, Janet, a depressed woman who took part in the study, had been working overtime for no extra pay. Her befriender pointed out that this was unfair and suggested she ask for compensation. Janet approached her boss, who was "amenable and apologetic," Harris recalls. "These types of experiences—an acknowledgment of respect—made the formerly depressed women feel differently about themselves and about the world."
Publication: Psychology Today Magazine
Publication Date: Nov/Dec 1999
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Some Mental Health Facts
From the World Health Organization (WHO)...
450 million people worldwide are affected by mental, neurological or behavioural problems at any time.
About 873,000 people die by suicide every year.
Mental illnesses are common to all countries and cause immense suffering. People with these disorders are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and increased mortality. These disorders are the cause of staggering economic and social costs.
One in four patients visiting a health service has at least one mental, neurological or behavioural disorder but most of these disorders are neither diagnosed nor treated.
Mental illnesses affect and are affected by chronic conditions such as cancer, heart and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Untreated, they bring about unhealthy behaviour, non-compliance with prescribed medical regimens, diminished immune functioning, and poor prognosis.
Cost-effective treatments exist for most disorders and, if correctly applied, could enable most of those affected to become functioning members of society.
Barriers to effective treatment of mental illness include lack of recognition of the seriousness of mental illness and lack of understanding about the benefits of services. Policy makers, insurance companies, health and labour policies, and the public at large – all discriminate between physical and mental problems.
Most middle and low-income countries devote less than 1% of their health expenditure to mental health. Consequently mental health policies, legislation, community care facilities, and treatments for people with mental illness are not given the priority they deserve.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Please Don’t Add to the Stigma Felt by the Mentally Ill
I just came across this article. Even though it's "old" it's still good.
Thursday, 18 May 2006
Journalists should not just look for doom and gloom when choosing case studies, says Liz Nightingale of charity Rethink
Do you spend hours hunting for case studies? If you write about almost any aspect of modern life, you probably need someone to give your story human interest. Finding that person with the amazing story to tell helps make a good article great. At the severe mental illness charity, Rethink, we get at least one such request each week. They range from the bizarre — are your mood swings affected by the weather? — to the predictable: a women's magazine needs an attractive young woman with depression.
Rethink's media volunteer scheme has more than 200 members who have all offered to speak to the media about their experience of having a mental illness or caring for someone who does.
Recently, we asked media volunteers their views on media coverage of severe mental illness. Nearly 65 per cent agreed that it has had a negative effect on their quality of life.
As one person with a mental illness, who wanted to remain anonymous, put it, media coverage is "on the whole only given when someone dies by the hand of a mentally ill person. It ignores how the majority lead useful lives".
Many people said they were wary of mentioning their experience of mental illness to new acquaintances and neighbours.
Campaigner Georgie Wakefield, whose son Christian has schizophrenia, says: "When my son moved into his flat, 100 residents started a protest." The media may not have started the protest, but 40 per cent of the general public associate mental illness with violence and say their belief is based on the media.
Yet violence is not a symptom of mental illness, and the proportion of homicides committed by people with a psychiatric diagnosis has fallen steadily over the past 40 years. People with mental illness are six times more likely than the general public to be murdered and have the highest levels of unemployment among any disabled group.
A recent study for the Government anti-stigma campaign Shift found that coverage of common mental health problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was much the same as other health problems. David Beckham's recent admission that he has OCD is a good example of this. Yet coverage of people with severe mental illness was seen in terms of "problem people" who were a threat to society, not "people with a problem".
Those that Rethink comes into contact with tell us time and again that media misrepresentation of mental illness is incredibly distressing and adds to the stigma that can be worse than the illness itself.
In the media volunteers' survey, 62 per cent said that the stigma that surrounds severe mental illness is mainly caused by the media. Wakefield says: "The stigma that we've experienced was the very reason that we took part in the BBC2 documentary My Family: Loving Christian. Viewers got to know Christian as an intelligent, kind young man who happened to have schizophrenia and was working hard to make something of his life."
Changing public attitudes is a huge task, but all the research evidence suggests that people like ‘you and me' talking about their experiences breaks down a fearful ‘them and us' mentality.
That is why Rethink invests so much time in supporting people to engage with the public through the media.
Media volunteers agree: two out of five people in our survey said that if they could change one thing about the way the media report mental health matters, they would increase the number of interviews with service users and carers.
Despite the numbers of media volunteers, it can still be very difficult to find people who want to be interviewed and whose experiences match the angle needed. This is particularly true for young people, a group which can be reluctant to speak out, and yet which journalists are usually most keen to interview. People can find it daunting to have a journalist ask them about their experience of severe mental illness, because it involves recalling painful and difficult memories. Media suspicion means media volunteers often long for the kind of copy approval normally only given to A-list celebrities.
Journalists surveyed for Shift identified this frustrating lack of people to interview as one of the reasons why coverage is imbalanced. Not surprisingly, a report by the charity Mental Health Media found that 62 per cent of journalists were most likely to contact a psychiatrist when considering a story on mental health.
Rethink offers positive solutions to this apparent impasse through providing prompt briefings and comments whenever possible, and through its media volunteer scheme. To help boost people's confidence in the interview process, Rethink has produced You and Media, a new interview guide. Written by experienced interviewees, it gives media volunteers a step-by-step guide to the interview process. It helps people focus on their key points so they can approach an interview feeling confident and prepared.
Rethink is not asking for idealistic political correctness. We want writers to base stories on hard facts and use mental health reporting guidelines. For example, campaigners who want better access to the breast cancer drug Herceptin are not described as ‘cancerous'.
Let's not misuse ‘schizophrenic' as an adjective for being in two minds.
Severe mental illness must earn its column inches like any other issue, but it need not be a depressing story of doom and gloom. News and features about conditions such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder (manic depression)
offer ample drama and human interest. Media volunteers have often triumphed over considerable adversity and occasionally tragedy, and are willing to take a public stand to inspire others.
Thursday, 18 May 2006
Journalists should not just look for doom and gloom when choosing case studies, says Liz Nightingale of charity Rethink
Do you spend hours hunting for case studies? If you write about almost any aspect of modern life, you probably need someone to give your story human interest. Finding that person with the amazing story to tell helps make a good article great. At the severe mental illness charity, Rethink, we get at least one such request each week. They range from the bizarre — are your mood swings affected by the weather? — to the predictable: a women's magazine needs an attractive young woman with depression.
Rethink's media volunteer scheme has more than 200 members who have all offered to speak to the media about their experience of having a mental illness or caring for someone who does.
Recently, we asked media volunteers their views on media coverage of severe mental illness. Nearly 65 per cent agreed that it has had a negative effect on their quality of life.
As one person with a mental illness, who wanted to remain anonymous, put it, media coverage is "on the whole only given when someone dies by the hand of a mentally ill person. It ignores how the majority lead useful lives".
Many people said they were wary of mentioning their experience of mental illness to new acquaintances and neighbours.
Campaigner Georgie Wakefield, whose son Christian has schizophrenia, says: "When my son moved into his flat, 100 residents started a protest." The media may not have started the protest, but 40 per cent of the general public associate mental illness with violence and say their belief is based on the media.
Yet violence is not a symptom of mental illness, and the proportion of homicides committed by people with a psychiatric diagnosis has fallen steadily over the past 40 years. People with mental illness are six times more likely than the general public to be murdered and have the highest levels of unemployment among any disabled group.
A recent study for the Government anti-stigma campaign Shift found that coverage of common mental health problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) was much the same as other health problems. David Beckham's recent admission that he has OCD is a good example of this. Yet coverage of people with severe mental illness was seen in terms of "problem people" who were a threat to society, not "people with a problem".
Those that Rethink comes into contact with tell us time and again that media misrepresentation of mental illness is incredibly distressing and adds to the stigma that can be worse than the illness itself.
In the media volunteers' survey, 62 per cent said that the stigma that surrounds severe mental illness is mainly caused by the media. Wakefield says: "The stigma that we've experienced was the very reason that we took part in the BBC2 documentary My Family: Loving Christian. Viewers got to know Christian as an intelligent, kind young man who happened to have schizophrenia and was working hard to make something of his life."
Changing public attitudes is a huge task, but all the research evidence suggests that people like ‘you and me' talking about their experiences breaks down a fearful ‘them and us' mentality.
That is why Rethink invests so much time in supporting people to engage with the public through the media.
Media volunteers agree: two out of five people in our survey said that if they could change one thing about the way the media report mental health matters, they would increase the number of interviews with service users and carers.
Despite the numbers of media volunteers, it can still be very difficult to find people who want to be interviewed and whose experiences match the angle needed. This is particularly true for young people, a group which can be reluctant to speak out, and yet which journalists are usually most keen to interview. People can find it daunting to have a journalist ask them about their experience of severe mental illness, because it involves recalling painful and difficult memories. Media suspicion means media volunteers often long for the kind of copy approval normally only given to A-list celebrities.
Journalists surveyed for Shift identified this frustrating lack of people to interview as one of the reasons why coverage is imbalanced. Not surprisingly, a report by the charity Mental Health Media found that 62 per cent of journalists were most likely to contact a psychiatrist when considering a story on mental health.
Rethink offers positive solutions to this apparent impasse through providing prompt briefings and comments whenever possible, and through its media volunteer scheme. To help boost people's confidence in the interview process, Rethink has produced You and Media, a new interview guide. Written by experienced interviewees, it gives media volunteers a step-by-step guide to the interview process. It helps people focus on their key points so they can approach an interview feeling confident and prepared.
Rethink is not asking for idealistic political correctness. We want writers to base stories on hard facts and use mental health reporting guidelines. For example, campaigners who want better access to the breast cancer drug Herceptin are not described as ‘cancerous'.
Let's not misuse ‘schizophrenic' as an adjective for being in two minds.
Severe mental illness must earn its column inches like any other issue, but it need not be a depressing story of doom and gloom. News and features about conditions such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder (manic depression)
offer ample drama and human interest. Media volunteers have often triumphed over considerable adversity and occasionally tragedy, and are willing to take a public stand to inspire others.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
National Mental Health Week (in Canada) - May 1-7, 2006
This is a bit late...
National Mental Health Week (in Canada) - May 1-7, 2006
This week is National Mental Health Week in Canada. Many Canadians are affected personally by mental illness - including many who support family members, friends and co-workers - which is why the Government of Canada continues to work with the provinces and territories to improve prevention and treatment of mental illness.
One in five Canadians will directly experience a mental illness at some point in their lifetime. For far too long, the stigma of mental illness has made the victim hide their suffering while society failed to adequately address and meet their needs. The perception of mental illness is improving but more work needs to be done to educate people about the illness. It can happen to absolutely anyone and, like other illnesses, many people can successfully recover with proper treatment.
For those who suffer with mental illness it's important they know what avenue they can take to receive treatment. Whether it is speaking with your doctor, counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or attending a support group, help is available.
Today there are effective medications that doctors can prescribe along with other treatments to deal with mental illness. Reaching out to family, friends or colleagues for support and assistance can be quite helpful.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is building on last year's Mental Health Week theme, practicing mind and body fitness, to promote nation-wide awareness and education. Improving individual mental health is a step in the right direction toward reducing the number of mental illnesses that affect Canadians each year.
Mental health is a vital part of overall wellness. As Minister of Health, I encourage you to join the CMHA in marking this important week.
Tony Clement
Minister of Health
For more information about mental health, please visit It's Your Health - Mental Illness.
National Mental Health Week (in Canada) - May 1-7, 2006
This week is National Mental Health Week in Canada. Many Canadians are affected personally by mental illness - including many who support family members, friends and co-workers - which is why the Government of Canada continues to work with the provinces and territories to improve prevention and treatment of mental illness.
One in five Canadians will directly experience a mental illness at some point in their lifetime. For far too long, the stigma of mental illness has made the victim hide their suffering while society failed to adequately address and meet their needs. The perception of mental illness is improving but more work needs to be done to educate people about the illness. It can happen to absolutely anyone and, like other illnesses, many people can successfully recover with proper treatment.
For those who suffer with mental illness it's important they know what avenue they can take to receive treatment. Whether it is speaking with your doctor, counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or attending a support group, help is available.
Today there are effective medications that doctors can prescribe along with other treatments to deal with mental illness. Reaching out to family, friends or colleagues for support and assistance can be quite helpful.
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is building on last year's Mental Health Week theme, practicing mind and body fitness, to promote nation-wide awareness and education. Improving individual mental health is a step in the right direction toward reducing the number of mental illnesses that affect Canadians each year.
Mental health is a vital part of overall wellness. As Minister of Health, I encourage you to join the CMHA in marking this important week.
Tony Clement
Minister of Health
For more information about mental health, please visit It's Your Health - Mental Illness.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Facts about Mental Illness
astonishing facts about mental illness
From Royal Ottawa Health Care Group
According to the World Health Organization, Mental Illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada, the US and Western Europe 8 of the 10 leading causes of disability are mental illnesses According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information - Hospital Mental Health Database, 2003 the average length of stay for a patient in an Ontario Mental Health Hospital is 99 days The annual direct and indirect cost to the Canadian economy of mental illness is $14 Billion
From Royal Ottawa Health Care Group
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Pretending you have jet lag to help overcome insomnia
Pretending you have jet lag to help overcome insomnia
Originally posted on Friday, August 26, 2005
CHANGE YOUR SLEEP PATTERN TIPS: I read a number of articles and chose to include the suggestions I kept coming across.
1 - Drink lots of water.
2 - Forget your old sleep pattern - those days are over (well, at least while you're on your trip) and work with local times only.
3 - Take sleeping pills before bed to help you a) get to sleep and b) stay asleep throughout the night. Lots of articles mentioned taking melatonin - interesting hormone. You can get it from health food stores, but not in Canada because it's banned here. Also, if the thought of taking sleeping pills doesn't jive with you, you might want to consider making an exception just for jet lag (real or imagined) because it really will help you get to sleep and stay asleep if you've had trouble doing so in the past.
4 - Wake up and stay up. Some articles said short naps were ok, but that would never work for me. Keep yourself busy, surf the net, play video games, go for a walk - whatever it takes. This day might seem really loooong. That's OK, it'll be over soon and tomorrow won't be as bad.
5 - Use caffeine if you wish, but don't over do it, drink lots of water and don't use it near bedtime. If you have too much you may find that you feel exhausted, but no matter how hard you try, you can't sleep - extremely frustrating.
6 - And this one is just from me - eat breads and pastas to help settle your stomach if you're not feeling good.
And Further Suggestions for Fake Jet Lag:
I asked myself what I would do if I were catching a plane to England (which I used to do once a year when my dad was working out there). The flights would always leave in the evening and arrive in their morning. I could never sleep on the plane, so I would end up staying awake for a day, night and day. Then, I would make sure I go to bed at a reasonable local time (that means 10 or 11pm for me) and get up at 8 or 9am (again, reasonable for me) and stay awake the entire day, doing the same thing all over again.
Originally posted on Friday, August 26, 2005
CHANGE YOUR SLEEP PATTERN TIPS: I read a number of articles and chose to include the suggestions I kept coming across.
1 - Drink lots of water.
2 - Forget your old sleep pattern - those days are over (well, at least while you're on your trip) and work with local times only.
3 - Take sleeping pills before bed to help you a) get to sleep and b) stay asleep throughout the night. Lots of articles mentioned taking melatonin - interesting hormone. You can get it from health food stores, but not in Canada because it's banned here. Also, if the thought of taking sleeping pills doesn't jive with you, you might want to consider making an exception just for jet lag (real or imagined) because it really will help you get to sleep and stay asleep if you've had trouble doing so in the past.
4 - Wake up and stay up. Some articles said short naps were ok, but that would never work for me. Keep yourself busy, surf the net, play video games, go for a walk - whatever it takes. This day might seem really loooong. That's OK, it'll be over soon and tomorrow won't be as bad.
5 - Use caffeine if you wish, but don't over do it, drink lots of water and don't use it near bedtime. If you have too much you may find that you feel exhausted, but no matter how hard you try, you can't sleep - extremely frustrating.
6 - And this one is just from me - eat breads and pastas to help settle your stomach if you're not feeling good.
And Further Suggestions for Fake Jet Lag:
I asked myself what I would do if I were catching a plane to England (which I used to do once a year when my dad was working out there). The flights would always leave in the evening and arrive in their morning. I could never sleep on the plane, so I would end up staying awake for a day, night and day. Then, I would make sure I go to bed at a reasonable local time (that means 10 or 11pm for me) and get up at 8 or 9am (again, reasonable for me) and stay awake the entire day, doing the same thing all over again.
Friday, February 03, 2006
What's it like to be Schizophrenic?
I do not have schizophrenia, but I have lived with someone who has had psychosis. Regardless, I thought this article was great for general awareness.
Coping With Schizophrenia Requires Effort...
The following is an adaptation by the Menninger Letter of “Twelve Aspects of Coping for Persons with Schizophrenia” by Frederick J. Frese, Ph.D. (Innovations and Research, Vol 2., No. 3, 1993, pp. 39-46.)
I am a person with schizophrenia. I am not currently psychotic, but I have been in the state of psychosis often enough to be somewhat familiar with the trips there and back.
A few years ago I decided to talk openly about my experiences with schizophrenia. My initial talks on the theory and politics of caring for the mentally ill were well received.
But I soon learned that most nonprofessional audiences prefer to learn how families can cope with the condition. I now focus on 12 aspects of coping with schizophrenia: denial, knowledge , medication, delusional thinking, social deficits, replaying, expressed emotion, stress, music and hobbies, stigma, revealing, and networking.
Denial and acceptance
I can’t tell you how difficult it is to accept a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Humans are governed by logic and reason: the unreasonable is unacceptable. But this disorder disrupts brain chemistry and fools you into believing that your thoughts are rational when other people can usually tell that they’re not.
Psychosis is a “catch-22.” If you understand that you are insane, then you’re thinking properly and are therefore not insane. You can be psychotic only if you believe you are not. It is generally best not to confront denial outright, but rather to chip away at it. Acceptance of the diagnosis can help motivate us to learn more about the disorder.
With people who deny that they have the disorder, it is helpful to point out to them that they are being treated by others as though they have a mental illness. Once they concede this point, they may be more willing to seek medical treatment.
Knowledge of the disorder
Schizophrenia is now widely accepted as a brain-based imbalance in the biochemistry of the neurotransmitting systems. On a practical level, it disturbs thought and belief systems and affects confidence in what is truthful. It can even evoke mystical experiences that seem very real, but which mus be viewed as a symptom of an illness that requires treatment.
Medication
People who are physically disabled can be helped by artificial supports such as seeing eye dogs, hearing aids, or crutches. Schizophrenia requires the chemical “crutch” of neuroleptic medication. Without it, I would not be able to function as I do today. True, some medications have serious side effects, but new drugs are constantly being developed, and many of them are more effective with fewer side effects.
Delusional Thinking
Our psychological systems were designed to protect us from reasonable amounts of stress. Stress affects everyone, but different individuals react in different ways, and sustained stress affects various physiological functions and thought patterns.
When normal brain functioning is disrupted, our brains revert to responding from our emotional center rather than from our center for rational thought processing. It is important for us to recognize that stress can overload our rational capacities and make us react in an overly defensive, vigilant, or delusional way.
Social deficits
People with schizophrenia tend not to look at the person they’re conversing with. There is a good reason for this avoidance of eye contact. We’re more easily distracted, and the other person’s facial expressions can make it difficult to focus on what we are trying to say. Because we’re slower to process information our recognition of what the other person says is often delayed.
These tendencies throw off the rhythm of conversation because they disconcert other people. We also have trouble knowing when and how to end a conversation. But, if we can get other people to understand these social deficits, then we can work together to overcome them.
Replaying/rehearsing
In psychiatric hospitals patients often appear to be talking to people who aren’t really there. Sometimes these patients are responding to voices, but not always.
Those of us with schizophrenia are quite sensitive to having our feelings hurt. We may seek to protect ourselves by replaying past painful experiences and then rehearsing responses (often out loud) that might be useful in the future.
But we need to recognize this tendency and understand that it may upset other people. Since my own inclination to talk out loud annoys my wife, I try to confine myself to doing so only in the shower of while mowing the yard.
Expressed emotion (EE)
The EE concept focuses on the relationship between family and other environmental characteristics and the likelihood of relapse by persons recently released from hospital treatment. Researchers have found that patients who go back to live with family members who frequently express emotional over-involvement or negative emotions (resentment, hostility) are much more likely to relapse than those who live with families who are les emotionally expressive.
Those of us with schizophrenia need to avoid persons, place, and activities where we are likely to encounter high expressed emotion. We also need to learn how to let others know something about the nature of our disability and what triggers a relapse.
Stress and excitement.
Stressful and stimulating situations tend to cause relapses. My own breakdowns often occur while I am attending conferences or shortly thereafter. Even visits to s shopping mall can be too stressful. I find it helpful to limit my exposure to, or withdraw slightly from, such situations. Adjusting medication dosage might also be made in consultation with one’s doctor.
Music and hobbies
Because the ability of persons with schizophrenia to sustain rational processes is damaged, activities that do not tax logical abilities are often helpful. Music, art, and poetic forms can all be used as a way to communicate.
These aesthetic expressions can release pressures and be most and be most therapeutic. Such activity has been called “woodshedding,” from the jazz musician’s custom of experimenting in isolation until the sounds form patterns that others can appreciate. Woodshedding in any expressive art can build bridges back to the world of normality.
Stigma/discrimination
Traditionally, persons judged “insane” were summarily dismissed as unimportant by the general population. When we started returning to society, we were often unwelcome. The media have mostly portrayed mentally ill persons as monsters. Although such conditions as cancer and heart disease can be openly discussed, the topic of schizophrenia elicits emotional reactions of fear or derisive humor.
Those of us who find ourselves unwelcome in what I sometimes call “the chronically normal community” must work together to change our image. We can promote greater understanding and acceptance by being open about the nature of mental illness.
Revealing/covering
Recovered mentally ill persons often contact me about whether to reveal their condition to others, especially employers. I usually encourage them to show their boss an article about me or another recovered person as a way to gauge that person’s receptivity—and then to be guided by the reaction they elicit.
As a practical matter, however, many people should probably not be too open about their past. You can usually account for time spent in the hospital or spells of unemployment in creative ways that involve no real falsehood—such as by indicating you were doing freelance work, consulting, or writing.
Networking
When I was released from the hospital, I had trouble connecting with other former patients. But that’s changing because organizations such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) have established a national network with groups in all large cities and many smaller ones nationwide. It has been my experience that recovering persons benefit greatly from associating with others with similar disabilities. To locate a NAMI affiliate in your area, call their national office at 1-800-950-6264.
___________________________________________
Frederick Frese, Ph.D. is coordinator of Recovery Services for Summit County, Ohio. He has a website: fredfrese.com and can be reached online at fresef@admboard.org.Article source is from Dr Frese's website here:http://fredfrese.com/?q=node/view/2
Coping With Schizophrenia Requires Effort...
The following is an adaptation by the Menninger Letter of “Twelve Aspects of Coping for Persons with Schizophrenia” by Frederick J. Frese, Ph.D. (Innovations and Research, Vol 2., No. 3, 1993, pp. 39-46.)
I am a person with schizophrenia. I am not currently psychotic, but I have been in the state of psychosis often enough to be somewhat familiar with the trips there and back.
A few years ago I decided to talk openly about my experiences with schizophrenia. My initial talks on the theory and politics of caring for the mentally ill were well received.
But I soon learned that most nonprofessional audiences prefer to learn how families can cope with the condition. I now focus on 12 aspects of coping with schizophrenia: denial, knowledge , medication, delusional thinking, social deficits, replaying, expressed emotion, stress, music and hobbies, stigma, revealing, and networking.
Denial and acceptance
I can’t tell you how difficult it is to accept a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Humans are governed by logic and reason: the unreasonable is unacceptable. But this disorder disrupts brain chemistry and fools you into believing that your thoughts are rational when other people can usually tell that they’re not.
Psychosis is a “catch-22.” If you understand that you are insane, then you’re thinking properly and are therefore not insane. You can be psychotic only if you believe you are not. It is generally best not to confront denial outright, but rather to chip away at it. Acceptance of the diagnosis can help motivate us to learn more about the disorder.
With people who deny that they have the disorder, it is helpful to point out to them that they are being treated by others as though they have a mental illness. Once they concede this point, they may be more willing to seek medical treatment.
Knowledge of the disorder
Schizophrenia is now widely accepted as a brain-based imbalance in the biochemistry of the neurotransmitting systems. On a practical level, it disturbs thought and belief systems and affects confidence in what is truthful. It can even evoke mystical experiences that seem very real, but which mus be viewed as a symptom of an illness that requires treatment.
Medication
People who are physically disabled can be helped by artificial supports such as seeing eye dogs, hearing aids, or crutches. Schizophrenia requires the chemical “crutch” of neuroleptic medication. Without it, I would not be able to function as I do today. True, some medications have serious side effects, but new drugs are constantly being developed, and many of them are more effective with fewer side effects.
Delusional Thinking
Our psychological systems were designed to protect us from reasonable amounts of stress. Stress affects everyone, but different individuals react in different ways, and sustained stress affects various physiological functions and thought patterns.
When normal brain functioning is disrupted, our brains revert to responding from our emotional center rather than from our center for rational thought processing. It is important for us to recognize that stress can overload our rational capacities and make us react in an overly defensive, vigilant, or delusional way.
Social deficits
People with schizophrenia tend not to look at the person they’re conversing with. There is a good reason for this avoidance of eye contact. We’re more easily distracted, and the other person’s facial expressions can make it difficult to focus on what we are trying to say. Because we’re slower to process information our recognition of what the other person says is often delayed.
These tendencies throw off the rhythm of conversation because they disconcert other people. We also have trouble knowing when and how to end a conversation. But, if we can get other people to understand these social deficits, then we can work together to overcome them.
Replaying/rehearsing
In psychiatric hospitals patients often appear to be talking to people who aren’t really there. Sometimes these patients are responding to voices, but not always.
Those of us with schizophrenia are quite sensitive to having our feelings hurt. We may seek to protect ourselves by replaying past painful experiences and then rehearsing responses (often out loud) that might be useful in the future.
But we need to recognize this tendency and understand that it may upset other people. Since my own inclination to talk out loud annoys my wife, I try to confine myself to doing so only in the shower of while mowing the yard.
Expressed emotion (EE)
The EE concept focuses on the relationship between family and other environmental characteristics and the likelihood of relapse by persons recently released from hospital treatment. Researchers have found that patients who go back to live with family members who frequently express emotional over-involvement or negative emotions (resentment, hostility) are much more likely to relapse than those who live with families who are les emotionally expressive.
Those of us with schizophrenia need to avoid persons, place, and activities where we are likely to encounter high expressed emotion. We also need to learn how to let others know something about the nature of our disability and what triggers a relapse.
Stress and excitement.
Stressful and stimulating situations tend to cause relapses. My own breakdowns often occur while I am attending conferences or shortly thereafter. Even visits to s shopping mall can be too stressful. I find it helpful to limit my exposure to, or withdraw slightly from, such situations. Adjusting medication dosage might also be made in consultation with one’s doctor.
Music and hobbies
Because the ability of persons with schizophrenia to sustain rational processes is damaged, activities that do not tax logical abilities are often helpful. Music, art, and poetic forms can all be used as a way to communicate.
These aesthetic expressions can release pressures and be most and be most therapeutic. Such activity has been called “woodshedding,” from the jazz musician’s custom of experimenting in isolation until the sounds form patterns that others can appreciate. Woodshedding in any expressive art can build bridges back to the world of normality.
Stigma/discrimination
Traditionally, persons judged “insane” were summarily dismissed as unimportant by the general population. When we started returning to society, we were often unwelcome. The media have mostly portrayed mentally ill persons as monsters. Although such conditions as cancer and heart disease can be openly discussed, the topic of schizophrenia elicits emotional reactions of fear or derisive humor.
Those of us who find ourselves unwelcome in what I sometimes call “the chronically normal community” must work together to change our image. We can promote greater understanding and acceptance by being open about the nature of mental illness.
Revealing/covering
Recovered mentally ill persons often contact me about whether to reveal their condition to others, especially employers. I usually encourage them to show their boss an article about me or another recovered person as a way to gauge that person’s receptivity—and then to be guided by the reaction they elicit.
As a practical matter, however, many people should probably not be too open about their past. You can usually account for time spent in the hospital or spells of unemployment in creative ways that involve no real falsehood—such as by indicating you were doing freelance work, consulting, or writing.
Networking
When I was released from the hospital, I had trouble connecting with other former patients. But that’s changing because organizations such as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) have established a national network with groups in all large cities and many smaller ones nationwide. It has been my experience that recovering persons benefit greatly from associating with others with similar disabilities. To locate a NAMI affiliate in your area, call their national office at 1-800-950-6264.
___________________________________________
Frederick Frese, Ph.D. is coordinator of Recovery Services for Summit County, Ohio. He has a website: fredfrese.com and can be reached online at fresef@admboard.org.Article source is from Dr Frese's website here:http://fredfrese.com/?q=node/view/2
Monday, January 09, 2006
Take Suicide Off the Table
One of my blogging friends wrote this and I thought it was excellent. I thought you might too.
Take Suicide Off the Table
byDavid Michael
When life is dark and dreary,
and pain is deep within your soul;
thoughts of death and destruction emerge
and depression takes its toll.
Solutions may be hard to find,
and optimism seems too cavalier;
find a space between your thoughts
before spiraling down in fear.
Take suicide off the table;
it's not an option for your pain.
Open your mind to possibilities
there is so much to gain.
Suicide is not painless,
those who are left behind will say,
Suicide is severely painful,
and it never goes away;
it never goes away.
Take Suicide Off the Table
byDavid Michael
When life is dark and dreary,
and pain is deep within your soul;
thoughts of death and destruction emerge
and depression takes its toll.
Solutions may be hard to find,
and optimism seems too cavalier;
find a space between your thoughts
before spiraling down in fear.
Take suicide off the table;
it's not an option for your pain.
Open your mind to possibilities
there is so much to gain.
Suicide is not painless,
those who are left behind will say,
Suicide is severely painful,
and it never goes away;
it never goes away.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Antidepressants Work and Don't Boost Suicide Risk
Antidepressants Work and Don't Boost Suicide Risk
Sun Jan 1, 2005
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
SUNDAY, Jan. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Contrary to what has been feared, the antidepressants known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are initially effective in as many as one-third of depressed patients and don't appear to increase the risk of suicide, two new studies claim.
The reports, both of which were funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, appear in the January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The suicide findings seem to challenge a 2004 advisory by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that warned that suicidal behavior may increase after treatment with SSRIs. However, the study did find that suicide attempts were higher among teens than adults, a finding borne out by other research.
The first report is based on early data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial, the largest study of its kind. This research looked at the benefits of antidepressants in "real world" settings.
About a third of the patients achieved remission," said lead researcher Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, director of the Mood Disorders Research Program and Clinic at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. "An additional 10 to 15 percent achieved a response."
The object of the study was to provide physicians with guidelines for treating depression, Trivedi said. "The goal is to have patients provided with an adequate dose of medication for an adequate time," he explained. "Treatment would be tailored for each individual patient to get the most benefit from treatment."
For the study, researchers looked at the results of prescribing the SSRI Celexa to 2,876 patients with major depression. These patients also had other physical and psychological problems. The researchers found that about a third of the patients had their depression cured during the first 12 weeks of treatment.
In addition, another 10 percent to 15 percent of the patients showed a response to the medication, or reduction of at least half their symptoms. For patients who did not improve, later phases of the trial will use other medications or combinations of medications to see what might help those who did not benefit from the drug used in the first phase of the trial.
"These antidepressants in routine clinical care produce outcomes comparable with what is seen in research settings," Trivedi said. "These treatments do work in routine clinical care. There also has to be careful monitoring of side effects. In addition, you have to monitor dose and duration of the treatment, based on the patient's progression."
One expert thinks this study will eventually provide guideposts for treating depression that physicians can follow.
"This study, when it is all finally published, will give us a very good idea of how to treat treatment-resistant depression, and what the next step is after the SSRI fails," said Dr. David L. Dunner, director of the University of Washington's Center for Anxiety and Depression.
In the second study, researchers found the risk of suicide attempts and of successful suicides actually dropped in the weeks following the start of SSRI therapy.
"The risk of a serious suicide attempt in people who start taking antidepressant medication is, fortunately, quite low -- less than one in 1,000," said lead author Dr. Greg Simon, a researcher at the Group Health Cooperative, in Seattle. "The risk actually goes down after people start antidepressant medication."
The study also found no increase in suicide risk with the newer antidepressants, such as SSRIs, Simon added. "If anything, our data suggests that with the newer antidepressants there is less risk than with the older antidepressants," he said.
For the study, Simons's team collected data on 65,103 patients who had prescriptions for antidepressants between 1992 and 2003.
The researchers found the number of suicide attempts dropped by 60 percent in adults in the first month after starting treatment. The suicide rate continued to drop in the succeeding five months.
Among all the patients, there were 31 suicides in the six months after starting antidepressant therapy. That rate did not change from one month after starting treatment or in subsequent months.
However, teens had more suicide attempts than adults. Simon's group found that in the first six months of antidepressant treatment, the suicide rate was 314 attempts per 100,000 in teens, vs. 78 attempts per 100,000 in adults. For teens and adults, the rate was highest in the month before treatment and dropped by about 60 percent after treatment began, the researchers found.
In its 2004 warning, the FDA said people taking antidepressants should be closely monitored because of the risk of suicide.
"People should be closely monitored, but not because these drugs are especially risky," Simon said. "The real problem in the treatment of depression is that people start medicine and the medicine has side effects or the medicine doesn't work right away, and they get discouraged and they drop out."
Dunner agreed that close monitoring is essential when prescribing patients antidepressants. "Monitoring depression is very important," he said. "Often people come in for treatment when they are starting to get worse."
Monitoring is needed more for side effects from the drugs than to watch for suicidal behavior, Dunner said. "Suicide is a pretty rare event," he said. "It is more important to monitor for side effects and adherence to the medication."
Sun Jan 1, 2005
by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay
SUNDAY, Jan. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Contrary to what has been feared, the antidepressants known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are initially effective in as many as one-third of depressed patients and don't appear to increase the risk of suicide, two new studies claim.
The reports, both of which were funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, appear in the January issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The suicide findings seem to challenge a 2004 advisory by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that warned that suicidal behavior may increase after treatment with SSRIs. However, the study did find that suicide attempts were higher among teens than adults, a finding borne out by other research.
The first report is based on early data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial, the largest study of its kind. This research looked at the benefits of antidepressants in "real world" settings.
About a third of the patients achieved remission," said lead researcher Dr. Madhukar Trivedi, director of the Mood Disorders Research Program and Clinic at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. "An additional 10 to 15 percent achieved a response."
The object of the study was to provide physicians with guidelines for treating depression, Trivedi said. "The goal is to have patients provided with an adequate dose of medication for an adequate time," he explained. "Treatment would be tailored for each individual patient to get the most benefit from treatment."
For the study, researchers looked at the results of prescribing the SSRI Celexa to 2,876 patients with major depression. These patients also had other physical and psychological problems. The researchers found that about a third of the patients had their depression cured during the first 12 weeks of treatment.
In addition, another 10 percent to 15 percent of the patients showed a response to the medication, or reduction of at least half their symptoms. For patients who did not improve, later phases of the trial will use other medications or combinations of medications to see what might help those who did not benefit from the drug used in the first phase of the trial.
"These antidepressants in routine clinical care produce outcomes comparable with what is seen in research settings," Trivedi said. "These treatments do work in routine clinical care. There also has to be careful monitoring of side effects. In addition, you have to monitor dose and duration of the treatment, based on the patient's progression."
One expert thinks this study will eventually provide guideposts for treating depression that physicians can follow.
"This study, when it is all finally published, will give us a very good idea of how to treat treatment-resistant depression, and what the next step is after the SSRI fails," said Dr. David L. Dunner, director of the University of Washington's Center for Anxiety and Depression.
In the second study, researchers found the risk of suicide attempts and of successful suicides actually dropped in the weeks following the start of SSRI therapy.
"The risk of a serious suicide attempt in people who start taking antidepressant medication is, fortunately, quite low -- less than one in 1,000," said lead author Dr. Greg Simon, a researcher at the Group Health Cooperative, in Seattle. "The risk actually goes down after people start antidepressant medication."
The study also found no increase in suicide risk with the newer antidepressants, such as SSRIs, Simon added. "If anything, our data suggests that with the newer antidepressants there is less risk than with the older antidepressants," he said.
For the study, Simons's team collected data on 65,103 patients who had prescriptions for antidepressants between 1992 and 2003.
The researchers found the number of suicide attempts dropped by 60 percent in adults in the first month after starting treatment. The suicide rate continued to drop in the succeeding five months.
Among all the patients, there were 31 suicides in the six months after starting antidepressant therapy. That rate did not change from one month after starting treatment or in subsequent months.
However, teens had more suicide attempts than adults. Simon's group found that in the first six months of antidepressant treatment, the suicide rate was 314 attempts per 100,000 in teens, vs. 78 attempts per 100,000 in adults. For teens and adults, the rate was highest in the month before treatment and dropped by about 60 percent after treatment began, the researchers found.
In its 2004 warning, the FDA said people taking antidepressants should be closely monitored because of the risk of suicide.
"People should be closely monitored, but not because these drugs are especially risky," Simon said. "The real problem in the treatment of depression is that people start medicine and the medicine has side effects or the medicine doesn't work right away, and they get discouraged and they drop out."
Dunner agreed that close monitoring is essential when prescribing patients antidepressants. "Monitoring depression is very important," he said. "Often people come in for treatment when they are starting to get worse."
Monitoring is needed more for side effects from the drugs than to watch for suicidal behavior, Dunner said. "Suicide is a pretty rare event," he said. "It is more important to monitor for side effects and adherence to the medication."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
