Talk:Suicide awareness

AfC reviewer note
I have no opinion about where how our coverage of suicide should be divided into articles, so my acceptance is without prejudice to discussions of merges, etc. --joe deckertalk 06:12, 3 January 2018 (UTC)
 * User:Joe Decker IMO significant merges and trimming are required to focus this article on the topic of "Suicide awareness" rather than suicide generally. Doc James  (talk · contribs · email) 19:46, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

This article
Duplicates a bunch of content from other articles. For example we already have an article on statistics around suicide at Epidemiology of suicide and we discuss the causes of suicide at Suicide.

Some of this such as the research section is unencyclopedic in tone and based on primary sources.

Others such as the "social agency" is based on primary sources and is original research. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 19:36, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Original research based on primary sources / popular press
This block of text is very poor and some of it contradicts higher quality source.

Education in a non-threatening environment is critical to a growth in awareness among adolescents. Health education is closely related to health awareness. School can be the best place to implement a suicide education program because it is the pivotal location that brings the major influences in an adolescent's life together. Pilot programs for awareness, and coping and resiliency training should be put into place for all adolescent school-aged children to combat life stressors and to encourage healthy communication.

According to Dr. John Draper, psychologist and director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, “The best way to effectively prevent suicide is to give voice to the suicidal," meaning that their stories can inspire and teach others, and aid in reducing stigma. Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, agrees that it is imperative to encourage suicide attempt survivors to speak up, and is holding focus groups with those who tried to kill themselves. Her message is to treat suicide awareness the same as breast cancer awareness, which also had been stigmatized in the past, but has now been brought into the public eye through research, communication, marketing and survivors speaking out publicly.

Send Silence Packing is a suicide awareness program trademarked by Active Minds, Inc. to connect college students to mental health resources, raise awareness about the impact of suicide, and inspire action and dialogue regarding suicide. The program uses donated backpacks (from loved ones), each one representing a student lost to suicide, in an exhibition which travels around US college campuses. The backpacks are displayed in the college quads and emphasize the scope of suicide and the connection to real individuals. Since its initial exhibition in 2008 in Washington DC, Send Silence Packing has traveled to more than 140 cities around the United States. Surveys of students viewing the exhibit rated the experience as “powerful to very powerful” and 97% reported it was very educational. The program determined that each person who witnessed the exhibition told three friends, and that it encourages help-seeking for those viewing it and those they tell about it.

Another program promoting education is The Center for Suicide Awareness. This organization's mission is to reduce suicide by providing proactive education and support resources to suicide attempt survivors and survivors, in addition to providing student presentations and training for educators, healthcare professionals, youth, police and community leaders. Their environment is compassionate, barrier-free and stigma-free.

There are also organizations who deal with specifically vulnerable groups. The Trevor Project raises suicide awareness within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community, aged 13–24 years of age. Their mission to end suicide is fostered through four strategies: providing crisis counseling to LGBTQ youth considering suicide; offering a sense of non-judgmental community, supportive counseling and resources to reduce risk; educate youth and adults on LGBTQ-competent suicide risk detection and response; and advocacy for laws and policies to reduce suicide in the LGBTQ community.

Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 19:41, 17 June 2019 (UTC)


 * https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796014000109 seems to think that the "stigma" problem isn't the stigma of attempting suicide per se, but the stigma of living with a significant mental health issue. For example, mental illness is highly stigmatized in Japan, and suicide rates are correspondingly high.
 * There are other factors, of course, and that makes me wonder whether all of this comes from a US-centric/Western-centric POV. For example, this lists certain diagnoses as risk factors, but international variation in suicide rates isn't because different countries have significantly different rates of bipolar disorder.  Why aren't known social factors such as Individualism and Honor culture listed among the risk factors?
 * I'm also dubious that exporting the Medical model of disability is a great way to reduce stigma. Telling people that there's something fundamentally and permanently wrong with your brain probably doesn't make them think so well of you.
 * Anyway, the bottom line is that I think this overall 'story', as represented in several sections here, even if cited to excellent sources, would still deserve a big POV or globalize tag on it. We can and should do better than this.  WhatamIdoing (talk) 01:20, 19 June 2019 (UTC)

Based on primary sources and is non encyclopedic in tone
With the lack of constructive dialogue and resistance to suicide reporting due to stigma, it is critical to continue to explore the medical science of suicide, using it in a delicate balance with emotional and social education. Researchers have recently looked at developing a measure for suicide stigma, both for suicide attempt survivors and suicide survivors. The Stigma of Suicide Attempt scale (STOSA) and the Stigma of Suicide and Suicide Survivor scale (STOSASS) were created to quantify stigma at the individual level and general population levels. Results underlined the importance of both groups coming forward and participating in a study of this nature. It also illustrated differences in stigma evaluation for suicide attempt survivors and survivors. However, the study was based on self-reporting which can be limited in capturing behavioral attitudes. Also, the scales developed did not distinguish whether suicide stigma is specific to suicide or to mental illness in general. Still, the researchers believe STOSA and STOSASS could be beneficial in predicting therapeutic intervention outcomes for suicide attempters and survivors. More in-depth research needs to be continued on this, as well as exploring internalized stigma, which has not been measured thus far.

This text needs to be completely rewritten based on proper sources. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 19:41, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Already covered in the main article and is off topic here
Suicide does not have one single cause or factor. Suicide is considered to occur most often when stress and pressures exceed the coping abilities of a person suffering from mental health issues. Depressive disorders are considered to be the most frequently associated cause of suicide, but they are often undiagnosed or untreated, and are not always the singular factor. Risk factors have been evaluated for suicide as characteristic markers or conditions that can increase the chance a person may try to take their life. Odds are significantly increased when several risk factors are present at the same time. The most frequently cited risk factors for suicide are:
 * Depression
 * Bipolar disorder
 * Problems with alcohol or drugs
 * Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
 * Social isolation
 * Unusual thoughts and behavior, or confusion about reality
 * Personality traits that create a pattern of intense and unstable relationships or troubles with the law
 * Impulsivity and aggression, especially combined with a mental disorder risk factor
 * Previous suicide attempt or family history of a suicide attempt or mental disorder risk factor
 * Serious medical condition and pain
 * Childhood trauma
 * Heredity

Over 90% of suicides in the United States are a result of mental illness and/or alcohol and substance abuse, but 10% of those who die by suicide do not have any psychologically-known diagnosis.

Youth vulnerability to suicide is compounded by the increased levels of impulsivity, more than other age groups, as reported by the United States Institute of Medicine. This can be attributed to neurological and cognitive changes in adolescent brain function, stimulated by a rapid increase in dopamine during puberty. It is also suggested this impulsive, risk-taking behavior is often associated with the early use of alcohol and illegal substances. Abuse of illicit substances and alcohol can also be attributed to family dysfunction and genetic personality traits, and can be a predictor of hopelessness, especially among lonely and isolated youth. A comprehensive list of risk factors is outlined on Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

We also do not send people elsewhere to find comprehensive lists such as the last line. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 19:43, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Statistics
Trend analysis shows there is an increase in suicide among the youth population. Between 1999-2006, according to the Center for Disease Control, suicide was the third leading cause of death in adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, and the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 10 to 14 years. As of 2011, suicide increased in this age group, becoming the second cause of death for youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years, below homicide statistics and above those of accidents. Within the general population, female teens attempt suicide more frequently than males; however, white males accounted for seven out of 10 suicide deaths in 2015.

Among college students, suicide has become the second leading cause of death. The National Mental Health Association has divided students at risk for suicide into two groups upon college entrance: those already diagnosed with mental health issues, and those who develop issues while in college. Research suggests poor sleep habits, substance and alcohol experimentation, in addition to academic and social stress, may trigger or worsen mental health issues and increase suicide risk.

Geographically within the United States, western states have statistically higher rates of suicide. Per 100,000 people, Montana is ranked first, Alaska ranked second, and Wyoming is third. There may be a link between these states and firearm regulations, which make access to guns easier, as statistics show firearm suicides in states with the highest rates of gun ownership are 3.7 times higher for men, and 7.9 times higher for women. These are often rural areas without heavily populated urban communities (which brings social pressure stressors), but may indicate a lack of accessibility to medical and psychological health assistance in these remote areas.

According to the World Health Organization, in wealthier countries, three times as many males die by suicide than females, while low and middle-income countries have a lower ratio at 1.5 men to each woman. Globally, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15−29-year-olds.

Within the last 100 years, suicides have outnumbered homicides by 3 to 2. Statistics show that the number of youth who self-harm is increasing, but it is difficult to determine if suicide is the ultimate intention. In 2015, 494,169 people were treated at US hospitals for injuries as a result of self-harm. This suggests approximately 12 people harm themselves for every reported death by suicide. Recent surveys have tallied as many as one million people in the US engaging in intentional self-harm. Many suicides go unreported because of social stigma or are left untreated due to lack of education, which clouds the available statistics.

This is dealt with with better sources at Epidemiology of suicide. Duplicating it here well not making it clear which country the stats apply to is not positive. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 19:45, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Unencyclopedic language
This sentence in the lead "Awareness is a critical first stage that ultimately can ease the need for prevention." needs toning down. I removed "critical" and "ultimately"

The ref provided does not support it at all. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/awareness Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 19:49, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * agree w/ Doc James--Ozzie10aaaa (talk) 20:24, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Promotional links
Linking “The S Word movie" directly to https://theswordmovie.com/ appears promotional and is not something we typically do.

Plus we need independent sources. Suicide_awareness has original research which either needs trimming or fixing. That section also needs to be toned down a lot. Doc James (talk · contribs · email) 19:52, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * agree w/ Doc James--Ozzie10aaaa (talk) 20:23, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Discussion

 * The information is not duplicated the same as these other pages, perhaps similar but not the same. This is not a problem either. Many pages have overlapping content.


 * The list of risk factors for instance is very beneficial due to its simplicity and ease of readability and understanding, which is not shown as simply and clearly on other pages.


 * Removing primary sources is understandable. I think you are going too far too quickly with how much you are massively coming in and changing on your own with any discussion. It should be clearly identified what rules are being broken when removing cited content. Helper201 (talk) 19:45, 17 June 2019 (UTC)


 * Please be reasonable, you gave me less than 10 mins to respond before reverting me. Helper201 (talk) 19:47, 17 June 2019 (UTC)


 * User:Helper201 I have outlined the issues with each of those sections above now.
 * I will also ask for further input from further editors. Doc James  (talk · contribs · email) 19:48, 17 June 2019 (UTC)


 * I think the list would be highly beneficial to either restore or transfer the list to another page for the reasons I outlined above.


 * Also, similar content on more than one page is not an issue unless its virtually exactly the same, this isn't. Helper201 (talk) 19:52, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * The problem is the text here contradicts better coverage elsewhere.
 * https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/genetic is not a good source for example.
 * Have requested further input here Doc James  (talk · contribs · email) 19:53, 17 June 2019 (UTC)


 * The list could be adapted and/or edited. I think its hard to argue with its broad correctness however. It could be made more specific and cited better. Helper201 (talk) 20:01, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * This ref from the CDC is good. It however is not about "suicide awareness" per say. But about risk factors for suicide. I will make sure all these are covered in this section Suicide Doc James  (talk · contribs · email) 20:08, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Okay added the couple that were not already covered fully there. Doc James  (talk · contribs · email) 20:17, 17 June 2019 (UTC)


 * Comment: This is a poorly formed RfC, essentially just a grab-bag of criticisms of the article. While there may be validity in the criticisms this is not the purpose of an RfC. I'm also not seeing any significant discussion of the issues raised before posting this RfC. Oska (talk) 22:41, 17 June 2019 (UTC)
 * The RfC tag was added by a different editor to the one who started the discussion. Started here, tagged as RfC here. Little pob (talk) 08:03, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Ah, thanks for pointing that out. I think it was poor form for Helper201 to insert the RfC tag like that into Doc James' text. I'd suggest it be removed. Oska (talk) 10:45, 18 June 2019 (UTC)


 * I was simply trying to get further input before the mass removal of content, much of which was cited. I do not have the time myself to got through and review every edit so I just wanted some others views on what was being changed and removed being it was a lot of content being removed in a short amount of time by one editor. I also think for those trying to identify suicidal risks in themselves and others a simple list of risk factors like the one the article previously has is highly beneficial. There is now no such list on the article or on the suicide page. However, this article does still contain other simple lists such as Protective factors and Social media. A list of risk factors is also applicable to the topic of the page. Helper201 (talk) 15:59, 18 June 2019 (UTC)
 * I have removed the RfC placed by User:Helper201. If you want to create a RfC you are welcome to but it should go in its own section and should ask a specific question. Doc James  (talk · contribs · email) 16:18, 18 June 2019 (UTC)

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 * Suicide awareness.jpg