The role of context in understanding the use of tactical officers: A brief research note

A small body of research suggests that the use of police tactical officers has become normalized in that they now commonly respond to “routine” calls rather than being restricted to high-risk situations. However, this research has tended to rely on crude data (i.e., call type), which fails to account for the context of the calls (e.g., the presence of potential risk factors that might warrant tactical resources). In this brief research note, we sought to expand upon previous literature by examining the risk factors associated with tactical calls in a Canadian police service. We found that various risk factors were present in many of the calls that tactical officers responded to, some of which might be classified as “routine” (suicide threats, well-being checks, domestic disturbances, etc.). The presence of such risk factors highlights the need to consider context when attempting to understand the use (and consequences) of tactical officers. More rigorous tracking of these factors by police services will facilitate such research and inform policies around the use of tactical resources.

The limits of our knowledge: tracking the size and scope of police involvement with persons with mental illness

Significant public discourse has focused recently on police–civilian interactions involving with persons with mental illness (PMI). Despite increasing public attention, and growing demands for policy change, little is actually known about the myriad of ways in which Canadian police encounter PMI in the context of routine police work. To assist policymakers in developing evidence-informed policy, this paper attempts to shed light on present difficulties associated with addressing fundamental questions, such as the prevalence of mental health related issues in police calls for service. To do this, we attempt to map the size and scope of police calls for service involving PMI, drawing on both the available scientific data and the limited knowledge to be gleaned from available police reports. Our focus is on two broad categories of police interactions with citizens: public safety concerns (wellness checks, suicide threats, missing persons, mental health apprehensions) and crime prevention and response (encountering PMI as victims–complainants and (or) as potential suspects). We also explore the challenges policy-makers face in relying on police data and the importance of overcoming weaknesses in data collection and sharing in relation to the policing of uniquely vulnerable groups. This paper concludes with some key recommendations for addressing gaps highlighted.

SUICIDAL IDEATION AND SUICIDE THREATS AS ELEMENTS OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR OF PEOPLE DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY

Suicidal ideation and suicide threats as elements of suicidal behaviour may occur in every social group, to a small extent though. Negative behaviour of this type increases among people in penal institutions. 112 prisoners took part in a study conducted in a detention center. The results of the study show that suicidal ideation is present among people in prison to a large extent and range. The length of the prison sentence causes a higher frequency of suicidal ideation. Suicide threats occur among prisoners, however, with a much lower frequency than suicidal ideation. They are manifested for the purpose of manipulating the prison staff and gaining better living conditions in penal institutions.

Psychological Aposematism: An Evolutionary Analysis of Suicide

The evolutionary advantage of psychological phenomena can be gleaned by comparing them with physical traits that have proven adaptive in other organisms. The present article provides a novel evolutionary explanation of suicide in humans by comparing it with aposematism in insects. Aposematic insects are brightly colored, making them conspicuous to predators. However, such insects are equipped with toxins that cause a noxious reaction when eaten. Thus, the death of a few insects conditions predators to avoid other insects of similar coloration. Analogously, human suicides may increase the credibility of future suicide threats and attempts from others, conveying an evolutionary advantage to the phenotypic expression of suicidal behavior in low-fitness contexts.

COVID-19 and Mental Health: An Examination of 911 Calls for Service

The purpose of this study was to explore the rate and geographic distribution of 911 calls for service related to mental health issues during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the City of Detroit, MI, USA. The results suggest that the total number of calls for mental health issues was at the lowest level when compared with the same time period for the previous 3 years. Furthermore, as both the daily reported COVID-19 cases and related deaths increased over time, there was a significant decline in both suicide threats and suicides in progress. Significant hot spots were found for the total calls as well as for threats of suicide. These hot spots did not coincide with the spatial distribution of reported cases of COVID-19 by ZIP code. While higher and lower areas of reported cases were found, these differences by ZIP code were not found to be significant. When compared with the previous 3 years of data, the hot spot area was much smaller in 2020, implying that the mental health-related calls for service were more evenly spread throughout the city.

Psychological Aposematism: An Evolutionary Analysis of Suicide

The evolutionary advantage of psychological phenomena can be gleaned by comparing them with physical traits that have proven adaptive in other organisms. The present article provides a novel evolutionary explanation of suicide in humans by comparing it with aposematism in insects. Aposematic insects are brightly colored, making them conspicuous to predators. However, such insects are equipped with toxins that cause a noxious reaction when eaten. Thus, the death of a few insects conditions predators to avoid other insects of similar coloration. Analogously, human suicides may increase the credibility of future suicide threats and attempts from others, conveying an evolutionary advantage to the phenotypic expression of suicidal behavior in low-fitness contexts.

Asuhan Keperawatan Jiwa pada Klien Skizofrenia dengan Risiko Bunuh Diri

Kesehatan mental merupakan sektor penting dalam mewujudkan kesehatan manusia secara menyeluruh. Berbagai solusi dapat dilakukan seseorang ketika muncul stressor, salah satunya bunuh diri. Beberapa orang menganggap bunuh diri adalah solusi yang tepat untuk menyelesaikan masalah. Bunuh diri merupakan tindakan yang secara sadar dilakukan oleh seseorang untuk mengakhiri kehidupannnya. Salah satu seseorang yang mempunyai resiko untuk melakukan bunuh diri adalah pasien skizofrenia. Perilaku bunuh diri terdiri dari tiga tingkatan yaitu ide/isyarat bunuh diri, ancaman bunuh diri, dan percobaan bunuh diri. Tujuan penelitian menggambarkan pengelolaan asuhan keperawatan skizofrenia dengan fokus studi risiko bunuh diri. Penelitian ini termasuk field research (penelitian lapangan) dengan menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif, langkah-langkah yang dilakukan peneliti dalam penelitian ini yaitu wawancara, observasi, dokumentasi, dan reduksi data. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pemberian asuhan keperawatan pada klien skizofrenia dengan risiko bunuh diri menunjukkan hasil yang signifikan adanya intervensi dari perawat sesuai dengan respon verbal dan non verbal klien. Kata kunci: asuhan keperawatan, klien skizofrenia, risiko bunuh diri NURSING CARE FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA CLIENTS WITH RISK OF SELF-RISK ABSTRACTMental health is an important sector in realizing overall human health. Various solutions can be done when someone appears stressor, one of them suicide. Some people consider suicide to be the right solution to solve a problem. Suicide is an act that is consciously carried out by someone to end his life. One person at risk for suicide is a schizophrenic patient. Suicidal behavior consists of three levels, namely suicide ideation / cues, suicide threats, and attempted suicide. The aim of the study is to describe the management of schizophrenia nursing care with a focus on suicide risk studies. This research includes field research using a descriptive qualitative approach, the steps taken by researchers in this study are interviews, observation, documentation, and data reduction. The results of this study indicate that the provision of nursing care to schizophrenic clients with suicide risk shows a significant result of the intervention of the nurse in accordance with the client's verbal and non verbal responses. Keywords: nursing care, schizophrenia clients, suicide risk

Exploration of Benefits and Potential Harmful Effects of an Online Forum for Visitors to the Suicide Prevention Platform in The Netherlands

Background: Online forums that enable peer-to-peer interaction are widespread and readily available. Aim: This study aimed to identify the reach, benefits, and potential harmful effects for visitors to an online forum embedded in a suicide prevention platform in The Netherlands. Method: The study collected web-based questionnaires from online forum users and moderated posts. Descriptive quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Results: The online forum had 330 members in 2017, of whom 130 were active users (posting at least one message). Respondents ( n = 106) experienced from a high severity of suicidal ideation (78%). A minority (12%) visited the forum to find suicide methods and 3% to find a suicide partner. Among respondents who had visited the forum more than once ( n = 49), 53% reported no changes in feelings directly after forum use, 35% felt better and 12% felt worse. Peer support and anonymity were the most mentioned benefits, whereas no personal contacts and few reactions to postings were perceived as limitations. Suicide threats and the search for methods were the main reasons for moderating posts. Limitations: Usage habits and user experiences were available from a relatively small group that visited the forum more than once. Conclusion: In its current form, the forum has a low reach with few benefits and a potential for harm for its users. With a questionable benefit-to-risk ratio, the added value of the online forum appears to be small.

Psychiatric Illness Co-occurring with a Substance Use Problem

The combination of an SUD and a psychiatric disorder is called dual or co-occurring disorders (CODs). Rates of SUDs are especially high among individuals with antisocial or borderline personality disorders, bipolar illness, and schizophrenia. Having one disorder raises the risk of having the other. Psychiatric illness can affect how quickly a substance problem develops and response to treatment. It can also affect relapse to substance use. The effects of alcohol or other drugs can cause or worsen psychiatric symptoms. Suggestions are given for handling psychiatric emergencies, including suicide threats. An overview of the treatment options for patients with dual disorders is given.