Parasuicide

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Suicide
Types of suicide
Teenage suicide
Euthanasia/Assisted suicide
Murder-suicide
Suicide attacks
Ritual suicide
Cult suicide
Mass suicide
Suicide pact
Internet suicide
Copycat suicide
Forced suicide
Suicide by cop
History and methodology
History of suicide
List of suicides
Parasuicide (threats of suicide)
Suicide methods
Suicide note
Suicide watch
Views on suicide
Cultural
Legal
Medical
Philosophical
Religious
Right to die
Resources for dealing with suicidal thoughts
Crisis hotline
Assessment of suicide risk
Suicide prevention
Crisis hotlines by country
This box: view • talk • edit

Parasuicide refers to a suicidal gesture or a suicide attempt which does not result in death (a completed suicide).

[edit] Epidemiology

Nearly half of all suicides are preceded by an attempt at suicide that does not end in death. Those with a history of such attempts are 23 times more likely eventually to end their own lives than those without.^{[citation needed]}

A suicidal act that does not end in death is commonly called a "suicide attempt" or a "suicidal gesture." In the technical literature people prefer the use of the neologism parasuicide, or describe such acts ^{[dubious — see talk page]} as "deliberate self-harm" (DSH) – both of these terms avoid the question of the intent of the action. Those who attempt DSH are, as a group, quite different from those who actually die from suicide. DSH is far more common, and the majority are amongst females aged under 35 though it occurs in men and women of all ages. They are rarely physically ill and while psychological factors are highly significant, they are rarely clinically ill ^{[citation needed]}. Social issues are key — DSH is most common among those living in conflict with their families, with disrupted childhoods and a history of drinking, criminal behavior and violence are associated with DSH, though this is not applicable for a majority of those that DSH. Individuals under these stresses become anxious and depressed and then, usually in reaction to crisis, be it considered small or huge to others, they attempt to harm themselves. The motivation may be a desire for relief from emotional pain or to communicate feelings, although the motivation will often be complex and confused. DSH may also result from an inner conflict between the desire to end life and to continue living.