A nurse on the mental health unit is preparing a presentation on suicide for a group of student nurses. Which information would be included in this presentation?
Chronic pain or serious, disabling illness has little to no effect on suicide risk.
Hispanic Americans attempt suicide at a greater rate than whites or African Americans.
Suicide risk declines sharply once antidepressant medication has been taken for a few weeks.
White males over the age of 80 are at the greatest risk among all age, race, and gender groups.
Threatened suicide and/or gestures should be taken seriously and handled by trained professionals.
Numbers 4 and 5 are correct.
Rationale: White males over 80 are at the greatest risk among age, race, and gender groups, with 84% of elderly suicide victims being male. All threats of suicide should be taken seriously and immediate care should be sought out with the appropriate professionals. Chronic pain and serious illnesses such as cancer increase the risk of suicide. Whites are at the greatest risk of suicide among all ethnic groups. The risk of suicide may increase once antidepressants are effective because they may give the client the energy to formulate and carry out a suicide plan.
