AAS Foundations of Suicidology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which epidemiological finding best describes suicide rates by sex in the United States?
- Women die by suicide more often; men attempt more often
- Men die by suicide more often; women attempt more often (Correct answer)
- Men and women die by suicide at equal rates
- Women die by suicide more often at all ages
Correct answer: Men die by suicide more often; women attempt more often
Men have a higher completed suicide rate while women have higher rates of attempts, often described as the 'gender paradox' of suicide.
Question 2: Contagion in suicide, also called the Werther effect, refers to:
- Genetic transmission of suicidal behavior
- An increase in suicides following publicized suicide stories (Correct answer)
- Clustering of suicides among first responders
- Copycat behavior limited to adolescent populations
Correct answer: An increase in suicides following publicized suicide stories
The Werther effect describes the phenomenon where prominent media coverage of a suicide is followed by an increase in suicide rates.
Question 3: Safe messaging guidelines for reporting on suicide primarily aim to:
- Prevent media from covering suicide entirely
- Reduce contagion by avoiding sensationalism and detailed method descriptions (Correct answer)
- Increase public awareness by sharing graphic survivor stories
- Mandate government review of all suicide-related content
Correct answer: Reduce contagion by avoiding sensationalism and detailed method descriptions
Safe messaging guidelines reduce suicide contagion by discouraging sensational headlines, detailed method descriptions, and romanticization of suicide.
Question 4: The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is primarily used to:
- Diagnose major depressive disorder
- Assess the intensity and lethality of suicidal ideation and behavior (Correct answer)
- Measure hopelessness over time
- Screen for borderline personality disorder
Correct answer: Assess the intensity and lethality of suicidal ideation and behavior
The C-SSRS is a standardized tool that categorizes suicidal ideation and behavior from passive thoughts to active attempts with intent.
Question 5: Which population group has the HIGHEST suicide rate in the United States according to recent data?
- Black adolescent males
- White middle-aged males (Correct answer)
- Asian American females
- Hispanic adolescent females
Correct answer: White middle-aged males
Middle-aged white males have consistently shown the highest absolute suicide rates in U.S. epidemiological data.
Question 6: Postvention services are best defined as:
- Early intervention programs for at-risk youth
- Support provided to suicide loss survivors after a death (Correct answer)
- Crisis hotline services available 24/7
- Pharmacological treatments following a suicide attempt
Correct answer: Support provided to suicide loss survivors after a death
Postvention refers to intervention efforts directed at individuals, families, and communities after a suicide death to support grief and reduce contagion.
Question 7: Means restriction as a suicide prevention strategy is most strongly supported by evidence in which context?
- Removing sharp objects from schools
- Restricting access to firearms and medications (Correct answer)
- Limiting social media use among adolescents
- Reducing alcohol availability in rural communities
Correct answer: Restricting access to firearms and medications
Restricting access to highly lethal means such as firearms and stockpiled medications has the strongest evidence base for reducing suicide mortality.
AAS Foundations of Suicidology 3
Which epidemiological finding best describes suicide rates by sex in the United States?