December 3 at 1:39 am Arnprior
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www.mooddisorder.com)
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Suicide and Mood Disorders?
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or imminent crisis of suicide, call 911.
Facts about Suicide:
Thoughts of suicide are a common symptom of mood disorders.
80% of suicides are carried out by individuals suffering from a depressive illness.
50 to 80% of seniors who commit suicide have a history of major depression.
Women suffering through a depressive episode most often attempt suicide in the latter stages of the episode.
Women are 3 to 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than men but men are more likely to die by suicide.
Males attempt suicide early in the depressive episode.
Who at risk?
Older adults are at higher risk due to life change and transitions through loss, lifestyle changes due to physical disability, moving from independent living to assisted living and social isolation and abuse.
Warning Signs: appetite changes, lack of participation in social events, signs of abuse and neglect
Young people are at higher risk due to family and school pressures, major life changes and hormone changes, bullying and sexual orientation issues.
Warning Signs: eating disorders, deliberate self harm, withdrawal from normal activities, exceptional and extreme mood swings, perfectionistic behaviour or extreme self critical behaviour
People who have recently had a major loss or life change are at higher risk due to grief that changes to depression that lasts for several weeks.
Warning Signs: major changes in attitude, changes in eating or sleeping habits, loss of energy or loss of interest in things that were once enjoyed.
Especially vulnerable are people who are recovering from an episode of depression, or who have a history of suicide attempts, or who have just been released from hospital.
Warning Signs:
Unbearable feelings: depression can cause extreme feelings of hopelessness, despair and self-doubt. The more acute the feelings the higher the suicide risk.
Putting Affairs in Order: making final plans, preparing wills or life insurance or arranging for the family&welfare.
Rehearsing Suicide: seriously discussing one or more specific suicide methods, purchasing weapons, and collecting large quantities of medication or rationalizing suicide as a viable option.
Drug or alcohol abuse: intoxication may cause impulsive behaviour and make the person more likely to act on suicidal thoughts.
Isolation: cutting off friendships and social connections.
Sudden sense of calm: someone with an active mood disorder who has just passed an episode&lowest point and be on the way to recovery suddenly appears calm and settled in such a way that is not in keeping with their state of recovery.
Getting Help if You are Feeling Suicidal
Call the doctor.
Keep in contact with trusted friends.
Make a Plan for Life and promise yourself that you will follow it when you have suicidal thoughts.
Give a copy of the life plan to your family and friends.
Learn to recognize the symptoms of suicide. Dont be ashamed. Remember feelings are not facts. Suicidal feelings are a symptom of your illness. You need help and support to get through them but you will get through them.
Depression
What you can do to help someone who is expressing thoughts of suicide:
Provide validation and offer concrete support
Call the Distress Centre or Crisis line in your area.
Express understanding and concern.
Tell the person what specific behaviours are worrying you.
Let them know that it not their fault, that they dont need to be ashamed
Let the person know that their life is important to you and to others.
Keep your role in perspective. You cant support someone by yourself. Get help.
If the person is hospitalized make regular visits or calls.
Support the person during recovery and support them in staying on track with their treatment plan
Resources
Books
Night Falls Fast, Jamison, Kay Redfield,
Suicide, Why? Wrobleski, Adina
Preventing Youth Suicide, - A Handbook for Educators & Human Service Professionals, McEvoy, Marcia L. & McEvoy Alan W.
After Suicide, Hewitt, John
Suicide Survivors; Handbook, Carlson, Trudy
The Suicide of My Son A Story of Childhood Depression, Bolton, Iris
Websites
Befrienders International
http://www.suicideinfo.orgSuicide Information & Education Centre
http://www.suicideinfo.ca/(this page has a list of Ontario Crisis Centres).
Suicide & Suicide Prevention
(at Dr. Ivan Depression Central)
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.suicide.htmlUnderstanding Depression
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
http://www.camh.net/about_addiction_mental_health/depression.html
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or imminent crisis of suicide, call 911.
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Focus on Families - Helping Someone Who Has a Mood Disorder
It is very difficult for families and friends to help someone who has a mood disorder. You are concerned about your loved ones but often frustrated, fearful, and yes, even angry, as you attempt to deal with your loved one's condition.
We've put together a few helpful suggestions that may help you help someone receive treatment or help someone manage treatment once diagnosed. It's important to remember however, that these are just a few suggestions for you, the family member or friend.
Please seek out support for yourself (see contacts listed below) as you support your loved one.
1. It's not your fault. You did not cause your family member's illness nor will you find a cure. A mood disorder is an illness, plain and simple.
2. You are not alone. Millions of families are caring for someone with a mood disorder. You can meet them through peer support groups. MDAO has a variety of support groups just for families.
3. Your emotions and reactions are normal. You may experience a variety of emotions from compassion and understanding to frustration, anger and even rage or hatred. These feelings are to be expected and understood but they should also not get in the way of your relationship with your loved one. Try not to take your loved one's behaviour personally. Remember, it is often the illness not them that you're witnessing.
4. Take care of yourself. Set healthy boundaries and limitations on how much you will do. Make sure you take time for yourself and for pleasurable activities away from your loved one. Remember you are no good to your loved one if you get sick too.
5. Find social support. Dealing with a mood disorder in your family can be very lonely and isolating. Your friends simply cannot understand what you and your family are going through. Make sure you find sources of social support in your community. We recommend MDAO's peer support groups or one of the family focused organizations listed below.
6. Knowledge is power. Learn as much as you can about your loved one's illness and the treatment options. Don't be afraid to advocate for the best possible care on behalf of your loved one.
7. Remember that life is a marathon not a sprint. Progress is made in small steps and sometimes there appears to be no progress at all. Applaud progress and provide encouragement during the low times.
8. Remember that you are only human. Don't forget that you are not omnipotent and that you do not have the power to change the neurochemistry in your loved one's brain. You can only do the best you can.
9. Develop a crisis plan. Talk to your loved one about what will happen in the event of a crisis, under various circumstances. Put the plan in writing.
10. Never lose hope. Remember that mood disorders are treatable illnesses. They are sometimes cyclical so sometimes the going will get real tough. Sometimes you will feel overwhelmed. Just remember that the right treatment is out there. Stay optimistic for you and for your loved one. And never forget you are not alone.
Related Resources and Sites
Recommended Reading
All Together Now: How families are affected by depression and manic depression, Health Canada, CMHA, 1999
Family Healing: Strategies for Hope and Understanding, Minuchin, Salvador & Nichols, Michael P., Touchstone, 1993
My Sister's Keeper: Learning to cope with a sibling's mental illness, Moorman, Margaret, Penguin Books, 1993
Nothing to Be Ashamed Of: Growing Up with Mental Illness in Your Family, Dinner, Sherry H., Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1989
Websites
CMHA Ontario Division
http://www.ontario.cmha.ca Families for Depression Awareness
www.familyaware.org FAME - Family Association for Mental Health Everywhere
www.fameforfamilies.com National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
www.nami.org For Ontario NAMI Programs go to
www.nami.org/family/index.html Click Course Locations (above the title) and select Ontario&
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
http://www.DBSAlliance.org National Family Caregivers Association
www.nfcacares.org The Mood Disorders Association of Ontario
