Parasuicide

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion of this nomination can be found on the talk page.

Suicide
History of suicide
List of suicides
Views on suicide
Medical | Cultural
Legal | Philosophical
Religious | Right to die
Suicide crisis
Intervention | Prevention
Crisis hotline | Suicide watch
Types of suicide
Suicide by method | Copycat suicide
Cult suicide | Euthanasia
Forced suicide | Internet suicide
Mass suicide | Murder-suicide
Ritual suicide | Suicide attack
Suicide pact | Teenage suicide
Related phenomena
Parasuicide | Self-harm
Suicidal ideation | Suicide note
This box: view • talk • edit

Parasuicide refers to a suicidal gesture or a suicide attempt that did 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.^[1]

A suicidal act that did 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" – both of these terms avoid the question of the intent of the action. Those who attempt to harm themselves are, as a group, quite different from those who actually die from suicide. Self-harm is far more common, and the majority are amongst females aged under 35 though it occurs in men and women of all ages. Although they are rarely physically ill, they are considered psychiatrically unstable.^{[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, violence, and abuse are associated with DSH, though this is not always the case 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. Self-harm may also result from an inner conflict between the desire to end life and to continue living.