Recognition of suicidal lethality factors by psychiatric nursing assistants

Influence of religious factors on attitudes towards suicidal behaviour in Ghana

The objective of this qualitative study was to understand how religion influences lay persons' attitudes towards suicide in Ghana. Twenty-seven adults from both rural and urban settings were interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data. Results showed that the participants are committed to core and normative religious beliefs and practices they perceived as life preserving. Such an understanding influenced their view of suicidal behaviour as unacceptable. Nevertheless, religion facilitated their willingness to help people during suicidal crisis. Religious commitment theory is used to explain some of the findings of this study. Implications for suicide prevention are discussed.

A qualitative study of attitudes toward suicide and suicide prevention among psychology students in Ghana

The purpose of the present study was to investigate attitudes toward suicide and suicide prevention among psychology students in Ghana by means of a qualitative analysis of open-ended questions about causes of suicide and how suicide best can be prevented. The students mainly saw the causes as intra-personal and almost all of them believed that suicide can be prevented. The results indicated a huge impact of religion on the attitudes toward suicide as well as some lack of distinction between their religious and professional roles and responsibilities.

The LSARS-II: Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale-Updated

The concept of lethality is essential to the assessment of suicide risk; yet operational definitions of lethality for purposes of its measurement have been loose and varied. A number of scaling measures have been published in the literature, with no relative consensus on the best of these. In addition, only a few of these scales have published data on their psychometric properties. Of these, we argue that the best is the Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale (LSARS; Smith, Conroy, & Ehler, 1984). Presented here is a significantly revised and redesigned listing of drugs and chemicals and lethal ranges of ingestion (in caps, tabs, or ounces) by body weight to update that scale.

Recognition of Suicide Lethality and Attitudes toward Suicide in Mental Health Professionals

The relationship between knowledge about suicide lethality and attitudes toward suicide was explored in a sample of 280 mental health professionals representing eight groups: physicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, crisis interventionists, counselors, and clergy. The results indicated significant group differences, with psychiatrists, psychologists, and crisis interventionists showing a significantly greater degree of knowledge; clergy scored lowest of all groups. Knowledge was related to attitudes such that those who recognize a greater number of signs of suicide tend to view suicide as acceptable and as a reaction to external environmental aspects rather than as a reflection of manipulation or a self-destructive drive; they believe the elderly and those who are “different” have a greater suicide risk and see suicide as a cry for help.

Suicide prevention: spreading the gospel to general practitioners

General practitioners were trained in the recognition and treatment of suicide risk either by written text alone or combined with a seminar meeting. They filled in questionnaires before and after training. In the seminar group, knowledge and attitudes changed significantly, while those doctors receiving written material only had similar results to those without training.

Comparison of master's and doctoral level psychologists in recognizing signs of potential suicide

30 doctoral-level and 43 master's-level psychologists completed a multiple-choice examination of factors from the lethality scale. The psychologists were all staff members of community mental health centers who received the examination (and returned it) by mail. The results showed no differences between the psychologists. Master's degree psychologists recognized as many signs as doctoral-level psychologists, and years of experience was shown to be nonsignificant.