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OBJECTIVES The objective of this research was to determine the unique contributions of sudden death bereavement to the mental health of university students compared to non-sudden death bereaved university students. Methods: We surveyed 1047 bereaved university students (retention rate 92%) and compared the non-sudden death bereaved university student population to the sudden death bereaved university population on outcomes including mental health symptomatology, and complicated grief using logistic regressions. Results: Sixty two percent of the sample reported sudden death bereavement. There were no differences on measures of PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, suicidal ideation, and at-risk drinking behavior across types of bereavement. However, sudden death bereavement compared to general bereavement was associated with increased likelihood of complicated grief. Conclusions: Sudden death bereavement in university students is associated with elevated risk of complicated grief. These findings confirm previous research and provide more insight into the unique needs of university student coping with sudden loss.

Objective:In Canada, 80% of firearm-related deaths are suicides. Access to firearms is associated with increased suicide rates. This study examines the frequency and factors that influence assessment of firearm access in an emergency setting.Methods:A total of 15,847 consecutive adults seen for psychiatric consultation in two tertiary emergency departments (EDs) in Winnipeg, Manitoba were interviewed. Data captured whether access to firearms was assessed, and whether respondents endorsed access or not. Comparisons were done to determine group differences among those with and without and with known and unknown firearm access.Results:Access to firearms was unknown in 47% ( n = 7,363) of psychiatric ED consultations, including 43% ( n = 998) of individuals who presented with a suicide attempt. Female sex was associated with decreased odds of firearm access (odds ratio [ OR] 0.28; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.35). Being single was associated with lower odds of known firearm access ( OR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.77 to 0.89) yet higher likelihood of firearm access ( OR 1.36; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.68). Presenting with a suicide attempt ( OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.80 to 3.34), preparatory acts ( OR 6.40; 95% CI, 4.38 to 9.36) and suicidal ideation ( OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.87 to 3.21) were associated with increased odds of reporting access. When clinicians felt there was a high likelihood of future suicide, firearm access remained unknown in half of cases.Conclusion:Firearm ownership and access is an essential component of a suicide risk assessment and remains unknown in half of individuals seen by psychiatry in this tertiary care ED sample. People presenting with suicidal ideation and attempts were more likely to report access to firearms.

Objective While suicidal ideation is a recognized risk factor for future suicidal behavior, clinicians often subtype ideation in an effort to further clarify risk. This study referred to the SAFE (Suicide Assessment Form in Emergency Psychiatry) database to examine individuals who were assessed for suicidal ideation in the emergency department (ED) to determine whether ideation subtypes (active desire for death versus ambivalence about living) differentially predicted future suicide attempt. Methods Participants were individuals presenting to psychiatric services in the ED between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2013, at 2 hospitals in Manitoba, Canada. People presenting with suicidal ideation were subtyped as having either ambivalence about living or active suicidal ideation. These presentations were examined as predictors of suicide attempt (defined by the Columbia Classification Algorithm for Suicide Assessment scale) within 6 months in regression models that adjusted for confounders. Results Of the 5,655 individuals presenting to the ED during the study, 158 (3.1%) presented again within 6 months with a suicide attempt. Individuals presenting with ambivalence about living showed more than a doubling in risk for future suicide attempts (odds ratio [OR] = 2.57, 95% CI = 1.64-4.02, P < .001). Active suicidal ideation also predicted attempts (defined by the within 6 months, with more than a tripling of risk compared to people who were not suicidal at baseline (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 2.61-5.34, P < .001). Conclusions Psychiatric presentations to the ED often include suicidal ideation. Both active suicidal ideation and ambivalence about living are concerning presentations associated with risk of attempt within 6 months. Clinicians should be mindful that differentiating between active suicidal ideation and ambivalence about living may downplay the severity of the latter presentation.

Objective: Established risk assessment tools are often inaccurate at predicting future suicide risk. We therefore investigated whether clinicians are able to predict individuals’ suicide risk with greater accuracy. Method: We used the SAFE Database, which included consecutive adult (age ≥18 years) presentations ( N = 3818) over a 22-month period to the 2 tertiary care hospitals in Manitoba, Canada. Medical professionals assessed each individual and recorded his or her predicted risk for future suicide attempt (SA) on a 0-10 scale—the clinician prediction scale. The SAD PERSONS scale was completed as a comparison. SAs within 6 months, assessed using the Columbia Classification Algorithm for Suicide Assessment, were the primary outcome measure. Receiver operating characteristic curve and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the accuracy of both scales to predict SAs, and the scales were compared with z scores. Clinician prediction scale performance was stratified based on level of training. Results: Clinicians were able to predict future SAs with significantly greater accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.68 to 0.77; P < 0.001) compared with the SAD PERSONS scale ( z = 3.79, P < 0.001). Both scales nonetheless showed positive predictive value of less than 7%. Analyses by level of training showed that junior psychiatric residents and non–psychiatric residents did not accurately predict SAs, whereas senior psychiatric residents and staff psychiatrists demonstrated greater accuracy (AUC = 0.76 and 0.78, respectively). Conclusions: Clinicians are able to predict future attempts with fewer false positives than a conventional risk assessment scale, and this skill appears related to training level. Predicting future suicidal behaviour remains very challenging.

To examine population trends in serious intentional overdoses leading to admission to intensive care units (ICUs) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Participants consisted of 1,011 individuals presenting to any of the 11 ICUs in Winnipeg, Canada, with deliberate self-poisonings from January 2000 to December 2010. Eight categories of substances were created: poisons, over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), sedatives and antidepressants, anticonvulsants, lithium, and cocaine. Using the population of Winnipeg as the denominator, we conducted generalized linear model regression analyses using the Poisson distribution with log link to determine significance of linear trends in overdoses by substance over time.Women accounted for more presentations than men (57.8%), and the largest percentage of overdoses occurred among individuals in the 35- to 54-year age range. A large proportion of admissions were due to multiple overdoses, which accounted for 65.7% of ICU admissions. At the population level, multiple overdoses increased slightly over time (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.02, P.05), whereas use of poisons (IRR = 0.897, P.01), over-the-counter medications (IRR = 0.910, P.01), nonpsychotropic prescription medications (IRR = 0.913, P.01), anticonvulsants (IRR = 0.880, P.01), and TCAs (IRR = 0.920, P.01) decreased over time. Overdoses did not change over time as a function of age or sex. However, severity of overdoses classified by length of stay increased over time (IRR = 1.08, P.01).It is important for physicians to exercise vigilance while prescribing medication, including being aware of other medications their patients have access to.

Objective: In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, the distinction between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behaviour disorder is highlighted in the section Conditions for Further Study. Diagnostic criteria classify NSSI and suicidal behaviour disorder as distinct disorders, with the latter including suicide attempt (SA). This study examined the prevalence and correlates of NSSI in emergency department (ED) settings and compared them to SA. Methods: Data came from adult referrals to psychiatric services in 2 EDs between January 2009 and June 2011 ( n = 5336). NSSI was compared with SA, as well as no suicidal behaviour, across a broad range of demographic and diagnostic correlates. Results: NSSI was more highly associated with female sex, childhood abuse, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), aggression and impulsivity, age under 45, and substance use disorders (SUDs), compared with presentations without suicidal behaviour. Comparing NSSI and SA, no differences were observed on sex, age, history of child abuse, or presence of anxiety or SUDs. Recent life stressors (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.99), active suicidal ideation (OR 8.84; 95% CI 5.26 to 14.85), MDD (OR 3.05; 95% CI 2.23 to 4.17), previous psychiatric care or SA (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.36 to 2.64), and single marital status (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.20 to 2.22) contributed to a higher SA rate. Among people with NSSI, 83.7% presented only once to an ED. Among people who presented multiple times, only 18.2% re-presented with NSSI. Conclusions: NSSI is associated with early life adversity and psychiatric comorbidity. Most people present only once to ED services, and self-harm presentations seemed to change over time. Future studies should continue to clarify whether NSSI and SA have distinct risk profiles.

This study examined which factors predict future suicide attempts (SAs) among people referred to psychiatric services in the emergency department (ED). It included consecutive adult (age >18 years) presentations (N = 6919) over a 3-year period to the two tertiary care hospitals in Manitoba, Canada. Medical professionals assessed each individual on 19 candidate risk factors. Stepwise logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves examined the association between the baseline variables and future SAs within the next 6 months. A total of 104 individuals re-presented to the ED with future SAs. Of the 19 baseline variables, only two independently accounted for the variance in future attempts. High-risk scores using this two-item model were associated with elevated odds of future SA (odds ratio, 3.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.62-6.42; p < 0.01), but this was tempered by a low positive predictive value. Further evaluation is required to determine if this two-item tool could help identify people requiring more comprehensive risk assessment referred to psychiatry in the ED.