Post Stroke Suicide

Strokes are caused by a block in the blood supply to the brain which causes a decrease in oxygen and delivery of other important supplies which facilitate proper functioning. Fifteen million cases are reported worldwide annually, although not all of these cases are mortalities, the large prevalence of strokes ranks it as the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. (Figueroa) Because of the time sensitivity associated with the lack of resources to the brain, strokes are considered a medical emergency and early recognition of symptoms can help decrease the amount of damage caused . Although strokes do not always cause death, strokes most often leave the individual with some physical and cognitive impairment.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has published a fact sheet of statistics on suicide in the United States. In 2007, it is reported that suicide was the tenth leading cause of death. Furthermore, for every suicide committed, eleven were attempted. A total of 34,598 deaths occurred from suicide with an overall rate of 11.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. (NIMH, 2010). Risk factors were also noted on this report and listed “depression and other mental disorders, or a substance abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders). More than ninety percent of people who die by suicide have these risk factors (NIMH, 2010).”

Throughout the years suicide rates have increased and is a significant public health issue. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. However, suicide rates are high among the elderly, yet research on suicide prevention in older adults remains neglected.

Strokes are the 5th leading cause of death in the US, with one person dying every 4 minutes as a result. For African Americans, stoke is the 3rd leading cause of death.(http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm) It is estimated that About 795,000 people have a stroke each year; about one every 40 seconds - there are many medical conditions that can cause a stroke and it is estimated that 8 out of 10 strokes can be prevented. However, there are some things that cannot be controlled when you are predisposed to

Researchers conduct hypotheses that suicide could be contagious. Researchers had a total of 22,064 individuals ages 12 to 17. When conducting the study they met on cycles to monitor the exposure to suicide. All groups which were separated into age had an outcome of 95% of exposure to suicide. Researchers also questioned how often certain groups were or had feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts from stressful events during the cycles. In further research, 24.1% from the ages 16 and 17 responded that someone from school has committed suicide and which 20.1%

Stroke is the third leading cause of death, and the leading cause of adult neurologic disability in Canada. After the age of 55, the risk of stroke is doubled every 10 years (Brunner & Day, 2010). Despite advances in stroke management post stroke complications occur. Nurses must focus on developing successful strategies to promote home and community based care for victims of completed stroke in order for them to resume their daily life as safely and independently as possible. Strategies must target prevention of future strokes, since a stroke survivor has a 20% chance of having another stroke within 2 years, and care management after the cerebrovascular accident. Effective strategies must be aimed at restoring patient’s independence by improving physical, mental and emotional functions. Three nursing strategies to promote this include: continuous patient education, patient and/or family goal setting, as well as providing psychosocial support to the patient’s family or primary caregiver(s). This paper will analyze why these three proposed strategies are crucial to promote home and community based care, as well as ways these strategies can be implemented in such settings in order to improve the outcome for post-stroke patients.

Depending on the most likely cause of your stroke, your doctor may advise specific medication or consider surgery to remove fatty deposits in your carotid artery.

Anecdotal Method-Many years ago, in a small town in Michigan, a woman by the name of Janet Adkins was diagnosed with a horrifying illness known as Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Disease is an illness that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Very early in the diagnosis, she already believed that her life was over and did not want to deal with the upcoming side effects of the disease. To overcome this, she decided to end her life out of the thought that it would make it easier and less painful; however, many considered she basically cheated her way out of life. Yet, she did not want to commit this act fully herself out of fear. So, she contacted a doctor who at the time was involved with the subject of assisting others with illnesses in suicide to rid of suffering and pain, known as Dr. Kevorkian (later on known as 'Dr. Death'). She believed that a total stranger could help kill herself but insisted it was not a legitimate suicide because she felt it was necessary; even though it clearly was not. He heard her desperate plead and decided to help. He used his own invention called the "Suicide Machine": a way of killing an ill patient by means of injecting lethal drugs into the patient via an IV, an example of active euthanasia. Active euthanasia occurs when an action is done with the intention of ending a person's life, such as injecting a fatal drug or medication. Finally, in a public park inside his Volkswagen van, Kevorkian attached the IV to Jane and

Stroke is a major public health concern occurring on average once every 40 seconds in the United States.(AHA) Although stroke patients benefit from time-critical therapy such as tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), providing interventions to patients within the therapeutic time frame is a challenge to small rural hospitals.1 Consequently, patients presenting to rural facilities have been found to be approximately ten times less likely to receive the therapeutic benefits of tPA than patients being treated at primary stroke centers where traditionally specialty care has only been available.2,3

What is a stroke? When brain cells die suddenly due to oxygen deprivation, a stroke occurs. Hemorrhagic and ischemic are the 2 main types of stroke. There are many signs and symptoms that indicate a stroke has occurred. Knowing the warning signs of a stroke and seeking immediate treatment can reduce the long term effects, improve recovery time, and avoid death. Stroke treatment is reliant on the type of stroke that has occurred. Medications along with lifestyle changes are common forms of treatment. The severity of stroke can range from minimal to severe therefore, rehabilitation time can take weeks or even years. If permanent damage occurs, treatment is aimed at adaptation and learning to live with the loss of function. There are many

Most stroke patients need support after discharging from hospital in order to live independently and work to their fully recovery. This essay is going to evaluate the support offered to these patients and their social networks. One care agency is going to be studied as an example of the services provided for stroke patient on their homes and the response to their needs will be analysed. At the same time, other external sources of support are going to be evaluated, as well the support they can receive from their social networks. Finally, it will be analysed my personal contribution to meet their needs and some recommendation will be made in order to improve the support provided to stroke patients and their relatives.

Stroke affects everybody differently, and it is difficult to say how much of a recovery is possible. Many stroke survivors experience the most dramatic recovery during their stay in hospital in the weeks after their stroke.

Long-term complications of a stroke, such as depression and pneumonia, may develop right away or months to years after a stroke.

Suicide attempts often are more lethal in older adults. Older people who attempt suicide often are more frail, more isolated, more likely to have a plan, and are more determined to die than younger people (Administration on Aging [AOA] and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2012). We know that as people age, they often have chronic medical conditions that can significantly limit function or life expectancy.

Typically Suicide and self harm are the type of topics that most people feel uncomfortable talking about. People tend to avoid talking about death, that's one of the main reasons why no body knows much about self harm and/or suicide. People wouldn't/don't know what signs to look for,exactly what suicide and self harm is, or what to do if they see someone had self-harmed.