Death by suicide has increased in the United States. Experts have identified risk factors that may identify those at risk. It is understood that depression is one of the major risk factor. The families and community are the secondary victims when a suicide attempt or completion is made, and they are at risk for complicated grief. Recently, our team was consulted for the case of a young woman with a catastrophic suicide attempt.
StoneDMSimonTRFowlerKA. Vital signs: trends in state suicide rates—United States, 1999–2016 and circumstances contributing to suicide—27 states, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(22):617–624.
2.
SteeleIHThrowerNNorojanPSalehFM. Understanding suicide across the lifespan: a United States perspective of suicide risk factors, assessment & management. J Forensic Sci. 2018;63(1):162–171.
3.
IrwinSARaoSBowerK. Psychiatric issues in palliative care: recognition of depression. J Palliat Med. 2008;11(2):158–163.
