Foundations of Suicidology Flashcards

Which epidemiological finding best describes suicide rates by sex in the United States?

Answer: Men die by suicide more often; women attempt more often

Men have a higher completed suicide rate while women have higher rates of attempts, often described as the 'gender paradox' of suicide.

Contagion in suicide, also called the Werther effect, refers to:

Answer: An increase in suicides following publicized suicide stories

The Werther effect describes the phenomenon where prominent media coverage of a suicide is followed by an increase in suicide rates.

Safe messaging guidelines for reporting on suicide primarily aim to:

Answer: Reduce contagion by avoiding sensationalism and detailed method descriptions

Safe messaging guidelines reduce suicide contagion by discouraging sensational headlines, detailed method descriptions, and romanticization of suicide.

The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is primarily used to:

Answer: Assess the intensity and lethality of suicidal ideation and behavior

The C-SSRS is a standardized tool that categorizes suicidal ideation and behavior from passive thoughts to active attempts with intent.

Which population group has the HIGHEST suicide rate in the United States according to recent data?

Answer: White middle-aged males

Middle-aged white males have consistently shown the highest absolute suicide rates in U.S. epidemiological data.

Postvention services are best defined as:

Answer: Support provided to suicide loss survivors after a death

Postvention refers to intervention efforts directed at individuals, families, and communities after a suicide death to support grief and reduce contagion.

Means restriction as a suicide prevention strategy is most strongly supported by evidence in which context?

Answer: Restricting access to firearms and medications

Restricting access to highly lethal means such as firearms and stockpiled medications has the strongest evidence base for reducing suicide mortality.