FINAL PROJECT ESSAY QUESTIONS

Final Project Essay Questions

Final Project Essay Questions

Q: What are some of the myths about suicide? When speaking with a family of a suicidal individual, how would you explain those myths? How do you take into account the myths versus realities during a lethality assessment?

Answer:

There are many commonly-held misconceptions about suicide. These myths of suicide often stand in the way of providing assistance for those who are at-risk (Osgood and Brandt 2001). By dispelling the myths, those responsible for the care and education of young people will be in a better position to identify those who are at-risk and to provide the help that is needed (Blumenthal and Kupfer 2000).

Myth 1: There is nothing that anyone could have done to prevent the suicide.

Reality: At some point in the process a timely intervention might have averted the tragic outcome (Blumenthal and Kupfer 2000).

Myth 2: In time those affected by the loss of someone to suicide will get over it.

Reality: Suicide loss is characterized by a long, severe, and painful grief that may not abate.

Myth 3: Someone who has never experienced a suicide loss can know what it is like.

Reality: "I know what you are going through" can only be true if the speaker is also a suicide griever.

Myth 4: Those who endure a suicide loss are made stronger by it. Reality: Suicide loss shatters personal beliefs, depletes self-esteem, leads to depression, and sometimes to suicide (Osgood and Brandt 2001).

Myth 5: Those who are young when a parent or sibling suicides are spared the pain (Blumenthal and Kupfer 2000).

Reality: The very young often feel the effect years later when they learn what happened. Children grieve and may have serious problems if it is not acknowledged and supported.

Myth 6: A suicide by an older person doesn't affect others as it does if the victim is young.

Reality: The grievers of an elder victim may be told that he/she "was old and going to die anyway." This marginalizes their grief.

Myth 7: Being around others who have had such a loss will just make you feel worse (Osgood and Brandt 2001).

Reality: Such contact is usually beneficial. It shows that one is not alone.

Myth 8: Those around someone who has had a suicide loss shouldn't talk about it.

Reality: Ignoring loss is denying loss. It should not be given "the silent treatment."

Myth 9: Learning about suicide after having a suicide loss will not do any good (Blumenthal and Kupfer 2000).

Reality: Most who suffer a suicide loss need to know how it came to happen and understand "why."

Myth 10: Stigma is no longer associated with suicide loss. Reality: There may still be hurtful remarks about the victim, what motivated their death, and the grievers' responsibility or knowledge of their intent (Osgood and Brandt 2001).

Q: In treating a battered woman, what stressors would you look for to authenticate the label of battered woman? What psychological factors are present for those abused women? How would you explain those myths to the woman, ...