Can We Prevent Suicide?

* WARNING: This episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. *

Guest: J. Michael Bostwick, M.D.(@DrBostwick)

Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. (@AmitGhosh006)

In this episode, professor of psychiatry and international authority on suicide risk and challenges in suicide prevention, J. Michael Bostwick, M.D. from Mayo Clinic in Rochester joins us. He’ll discuss epidemiological-based research looking at the utilization patterns of medical care by individuals who have contemplated or committed suicide. Dr. Bostwick will describe the concept of suicide crisis including risk factors, current events/warning signs, and mental status/agitation. He’ll also explain self-agency, stigma of discussing mental illness, potential value-based societal approach to individuals in distress and despair, and potential solutions to the suicide prevention.

Additional resources:

• Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Medicine; Huguet, Nathalie et al.; Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Volume 90, Issue 11, 1459 – 1461; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.09.011
• Grappling With Suicide Risk; Sublette, M. Elizabeth; Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Volume 93, Issue 6, 682 – 683; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2018.04.006
• Suicide Attempt as a Risk Factor for Completed Suicide: Even More Lethal Than We Knew; Bostwick, J. Michael et al.; Amer Journal of Psychiatry; Volume 173, Issue 11, November 01, 2016, 1094-1100; https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15070854

If you're feeling overwhelmed by thoughts of not wanting to live or you're having urges to attempt suicide, get help now.

• Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
• Call a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 any time of day — press "1" to reach the Veterans Crisis Line or use Lifeline Chat.
• For a list of suicide hotline numbers outside of the U.S., visit: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.