19.06.2015 Views

Common Mental Disorders Depression - New Zealand Doctor

Common Mental Disorders Depression - New Zealand Doctor

Common Mental Disorders Depression - New Zealand Doctor

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Appendix C Assessment of suicide risk<br />

Commentary<br />

Consider whether the person is safe to be alone<br />

Risk factors include:<br />

• definite plan<br />

• hopelessness<br />

• severe depression<br />

• psychotic symptoms<br />

• recent discharge from a psychiatric unit<br />

• use of alcohol, street drugs, particularly recent escalation<br />

• recent suicide attempt<br />

• single men: young, older people<br />

• homelessness<br />

• medical illness<br />

• history of childhood abuse<br />

• recent suicide attempt by a whänau/family member or a friend.<br />

Adapted with permission from:<br />

RAPID assessment of patients in distress. In Centre for <strong>Mental</strong> Health. <strong>Mental</strong> Health for emergency<br />

departments: a reference guide. NSW Department of Health; 2001.<br />

A guideline on the ‘Assessment and Management of People at Risk of Suicide’ 162<br />

can be found at http://www.nzgg.org.nz – enter the guideline title into the search box,<br />

then select the publication.<br />

Identification of <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Disorders</strong> and Management of <strong>Depression</strong> in Primary Care 137

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!