scholarly journals Effect of death of Diana, Princess of Wales on suicide and deliberate self-harm

2000 ◽  
Vol 177 (5) ◽  
pp. 463-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Hawton ◽  
Louise Harriss ◽  
Louis Appleby ◽  
Edmund Juszczak ◽  
Sue Simkin ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe death of the Princess of Wales in 1997 was followed by widespread public mourning. Such major events may influence suicidal behaviour.AimsTo assess the impact of the Princess's death on suicide and deliberate self-harm (DSH).MethodAnalysis, using Poisson regression, of the number of suicides and open verdicts (suicides’) in England and Wales following the Princess's death compared to the 3 months beforehand, and the equivalent periods in 1992–1996. Similar analysis on DSH presentations to a general hospital.ResultsSuicides increased during the month following the Princess's funeral (+ 17.4%). This was particularly marked in females (+33.7%), especially those aged 25–44 years (+45.1%). Suicides did not fall in the week between the death and the funeral. Presentations for DSH increased significantly during the week following the death (+44.3%), especially in females (+65.1%). Examination of case notes suggested that the influence of the death was largely through amplification of personal losses or exacerbation of existing distress.ConclusionsThe death of a major public figure can influence rates of suicidal behaviour. For DSH, the impact may be immediate, but for suicide it may be delayed.

1987 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Brown ◽  
A. F. Cooper

A retrospective study of psychiatric referrals from a general hospital inpatient population was carried out for three separate years, 1973, 1976 and 1979. Reorganisation of the liaison service to the responsibility of one consultant team was associated with changes in referral rate and disposal. In particular, there was a significant increase in the referral rate of patients from medical and surgical wards who were not involved in acts of deliberate self-harm.


1985 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 459-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald J. Brooksbank

Suicide is intentional self-killing, and parasuicide an act of deliberate self-harm—either by injury, ingestion or inhalation—not resulting in death (Blacket al,1982). Both are rare under the age of 12 and the rate of suicide in those under 16 remains consistently low. Referrals to psychiatric services reported by Shaffer (1974) indicated that 7–10% were for threatened or attempted suicide, while Hawton (1982) quoted studies giving the incidence as 10–33% for children aged six to 12; in England and Wales (1962–1968), suicide accounted for 0.6% of deaths in the 10–14 age-range. McClure (1984) found that between 1975 and 1980, only ten such deaths were recorded in the 13-and-under range, and 26 deaths in the 14 year-olds, after which the number of suicides rose sharply with each successive year. That study also showed that parasuicide was most common in the 15–24 age-group, but at younger ages there was a higher proportion of undetermined deaths, as against officially recorded suicides. The social taboos associated with suicide may lead to its systematic under-reporting, but even allowing for that, the phenomenon is still a rare one under the age of 16.


Crisis ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 183-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Crowder ◽  
Rohan Van Der Putt ◽  
Ceri-Anne Ashby ◽  
Andrew Blewett

Abstract: Deliberate self-harm patients who leave the acute hospital environment before the completion of psychiatric assessment have an increased risk of subsequent self-harm. We considered the available data on 50 premature self-discharges identified prospectively in a general hospital with a well-developed integrated-care pathway for self-harm patients, and compared them to a control group. The self-discharge group was found to be more likely to have attempted self-poisoning without alcohol intoxication or other forms or combinations of self-harm, and an absence of identifiable previous self-harm or prior contact with local specialist psychiatric services. The two groups showed no difference in age, sex, or area of residence based on community mental health team sectors. It is proposed that these findings indicate hypotheses for further studies of why people leave the hospital without adequate assessment, and how service design could be improved in order to help them.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sohini Banerjee ◽  
Arabinda Narayan Chowdhury ◽  
Esther Schelling ◽  
Mitchell G. Weiss

The toxicological impact and intentional ingestion of pesticides are major public health concerns globally. This study aimed to estimate the extent of deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicides (suicidal behaviour) and document pesticide practices in Namkhana block of the Sundarban region, India. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1680 households (21 villages) following a mixed random and cluster design sampling. The survey questionnaire (Household Information on Pesticide Use and DSH) was developed by the research team to elicit qualitative and quantitative information. The Kappa statistic and McNemar’s test were used to assess the level of agreement and association between respondents’ and investigators’ opinions about safe storage of pesticides. Over five years, 1680 households reported 181 incidents of suicidal behaviour. Conflict with family members was the most frequently reported reason for suicidal behaviour (53.6%). The Kappa statistic indicated poor agreement between respondents and investigators about safe storage of pesticides. The pesticide-related annual DSH rate was 158.1 (95% CI 126.2–195.5), and for suicide it was 73.4 (95% CI 52.2–100.3) per 100,000. Unsafe pesticide practice and psychosocial stressors are related to the high rates of suicidal behaviour. An intersectoral approach involving the local governments, agricultural department and the health sector would help to reduce the magnitude of this public health problem.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-195
Author(s):  
Fiona McNicholas ◽  
John Fagan ◽  
Brid Tobin ◽  
Mairin Doherty ◽  
Neil Adamson

AbstractObjective: To retrospectively examine the case-notes of all children and adolescents admitted with deliberate self-harm (DSH) or suicidal ideation during the study period 1993-2003. The study aimed to identify underlying reasons why children and adolescents engage in DSH, and to identify common psychiatric, psychosocial and familial factors which may predispose or contribute to an individual's engagement in such behaviour.Method: All children presenting to the hospital with DSH or suicidal ideation were identified and data collected from their case notes. A study specific questionnaire was designed to collect demographic details, details on clinical presentation, past attempts, comorbid psychiatry disorders, family history and family circumstances. Information was also recorded on hospital stay and discharge planning.Results: During the 11-year period, 231 children presented with suicidal ideation or behaviour. The mean age was 12.85 with an age range from 6-17 years, with a female:male ratio of 2.5:1. Overdose was the most common method (81.2%) and paracetamol most commonly the drug of choice. More than half of the group (55.7%) expressed a wish to die. More than half (51.8%) had expressed suicidal ideation in the past, 31% had made a previous attempt, and 11.7% had been previously admitted. Of the children 8% presented with suicidal behaviour more than once over the study period. There was a family history of completed suicide in 6.6%.Conclusion: Deliberate self-harm in young people is a significant public health problem in Ireland. During the period of this study, rates have continued to increase. There is an urgent need for national bodies such as the National Suicide Review Group to extend their focus to include those under age 18 and for services to be developed that might reduce DSH behaviours. More research is needed in the area of childhood suicidal behaviour.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document