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Chapter 9 - Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2021

By
Anne M. Doherty  and
Seán F. Dinneen
Edited by
Anne M. Doherty ,
Aoife M. Egan  and
Sean Dinneen
Anne M. Doherty
Affiliation:
University College Dublin
Aoife M. Egan
Affiliation:
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, USA
Sean Dinneen
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway
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Summary

Suicide is a leading cause of death in many Western countries. Suicidal ideation and behaviours can be symptoms of depression, but they are also seen in people with other mental health problems, such as bipolar affective disorder, psychosis, substance abuse disorders and adjustment disorders. They are also seen in people who present with psychological distress rather than any diagnosable mental disorder. The consequences of suicidal acts may be especially serious in people with diabetes given the accessibility of lethal means on the one hand, but also the heightened risk of developing complications in cases of severe self-neglect due to a more passive death wish on the other. In Chapter 2, we discussed the relationship between depression and endocrine disorders. Although depression is associated with suicidal ideations and behaviours, it will be these symptoms rather than a diagnosis of mood disorder that are the focus of this chapter.

Keywords

endocrinologydiabetesdepressionmental healthself-injurious behavioursuicidal ideation
Type
Chapter
Information
Mental Health, Diabetes and Endocrinology , pp. 95 - 105
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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