Indicators of Suicide

Indicators of Suicide
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Indicators of Suicide
While there is no single cause of suicide, the Parker family case study presents several pointers. Depression, especially when untreated has a significant influence on self-destruction. Both Sara and Stephanie have been hospitalized for suicidal symptoms. Depression is a mood disorder, which affects people’s emotions, reasoning, and handling of daily activities adversely (Jahn, Cukrowicz, Mitchell, & Poindexter, 2015). Bipolar disorder is also another critical indicator of suicide in this case study. Patients with this conditions are usually at high risk of self-destruction when they fail to access treatment. Also, Sara presents signs of anxiety, which is a leading cause of suicide in the contemporary world.
In the case of depression, it is appropriate to encourage the disheartened person to seek help. It is vital to note that depression saps both motivation and energy. Therefore, it may be tough to get a depressed person into treatment. Encouraging the patients to admit to the problem and helping them recognize the need for recovery is essential. Bipolar disorder often involves depressive episodes that may be reckless, explosive, irresponsible, and outrageous (Jahn et al., 2015). Since this condition can be effectively stabilized with proper medication and treatment, helping patients to access the necessary support and motivation is essential. Finally, social workers can minimize anxiety by assisting patients to break free of avoidance acts such as making requests.

Since the indicators of suicide are extensive, questions such as “how often have you felt hopeless?” are essential to the diagnosis of problems such as depression. Feeling disheartened nearly every day in two weeks suggests depression. Likewise, asking clients whether they have experienced any suicidal thoughts allows social workers and other professionals to detect the severity of depression or anxiety. Inquiring about the sleep patterns of patients with questions such as “how is your sleep?” is critical as greater disturbance indicates an increased risk for not only depression but also anxiety.

Reference
Jahn, D. R., Cukrowicz, K. C., Mitchell, S. M., Poindexter, E. K., & Guidry, E. T. (2015). The mediating role of perceived burdensomeness in relations between domains of cognitive functioning and indicators of suicide risk. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 71(9), 908-919.