RISKS FOR

SUICIDE

Valerie Perrault
Emily Saucier
Samantha Singletary
Cristy Rider
RISK FOR SUICIDE:
State in which a client is at risk for
killing himself or herself.
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS:
 Suicidal behavior (ideation, talk, plan)
 Previous suicide attempts

 Suicidal cues

 Overt (Ex. “No one will miss me”, “I am better off

dead”)
 Covert (Ex. Making out a will, giving valuables away,
writing love notes)
 Statements of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness
RELATED FACTORS:
Pathophysiologic: Related to Substance Abuse
feelings of hopelessness,
loneliness, or hopelessness

Situational: Personal & Substance abuse in family, real

Environmental loss secondary to separation/
divorce, depression

Maturational: Adolescent Related to feelings of

abandonment, related to
significant loss, related to
depression
DESCRIPTION OF PATIENT:
 Melody is a 18 year old, young woman hospitalized with
severe self inflicted lacerations on her left arm. She is
single with no children.
 Her family history includes two brothers who are also
drug users, and parents who have been divorced for
seven years.
 Her medical history includes two previous admissions to
a hospital for attempted suicide via drug overdose.
…CONTINUED
 She has lived in one foster home and has also been
admitted to a juvenile detention center for a period of six
months.
 Her health habits include excessive alcohol abuse, usage
of methamphetamine, and excessive usage of cigarettes.
 She states, “My father is a drug addict”, “No one loves
me”, and “I might as well die anyway.”
 The nurses observation is that she does not keep up with
personal hygiene, and wears ill fitting clothes.
ASSIGNED NURSING DIAGNOSIS:

 Risk for suicide related to (R/T) depressed

mood as evidence by (AEB) substance abuse,
self mutilation, and verbalizing wanting to
die.
OUTCOMES:
Melody’s health state falls under a High degree of suicide.
 Melody will willingly attend scheduled therapy twice a
week until cleared by a medical overseer.
 Melody will complete a rehabilitation program in
regards to her continual drug/ alcohol abuse for six
months.
 Melody will exhibit positive behaviors that will nullify
high risk of suicide by discharge on 12/15.
ASSESSMENT OF DEGREE OF SUICIDE
DISPLAYED BY THE PATIENT:

Behavior or Symptom High Risk

Prior Suicide Attempts: -One or more attempts (self mutilation,
wrist cutting, excessive drug usage)

Continual Drug/ Alcohol Abuse: -Continual abuse

Purpose of Act: -Wants to die
Depression: -Severe or sudden change from happy to
sad state

*Patient does not have a specific plan of suicide, but rather frequent thoughts and
occasional ideas.
INTERVENTIONS:
 Melody will be under constant surveillance and
restricted to certain privileges during hospitalization to
prevent self-harm because patient is high risk.
 The nurse will communicate interest in patient.

 The nurse will involve patient in planning as much as

possible in the planning of her own treatment.
 The nurse will refer the patient to a psychiatrist twice a
week for complete evaluation.
REFERENCES: