A 20-year-old economics major became severely depressed after failing two examinations in

Question

economics. She cried for 2 hours,

then called her parents who live in a neighboring state, planning to
ask if she could return home. Her parents were in Europe. When her roommate went home for the
weekend, the client gave her three expensive sweaters to keep. Later, the dormitory resident assistant
returned a book to the client's room and found her unconscious on the floor, with an empty pill
bottle nearby. Paramedics took the client to the emergency department, where she was lavaged and a
psychiatric assessment was performed. Suicide risk factors present in the scenario include (more
than one answer may be correct)
A. history of earlier suicide attempt.
B. co-occurring medical illness.
C. recent lack of social support.
D. recent stressful life event.
E. shame or humiliation.
F. family history of suicide.

Answer 1

C, D, E
Rationale: Failing examinations in the academic major constitutes a recent stressful life event.
Shame and humiliation related to the failure can be hypothesized. Inability to contact parents can be
seen as recent lack of social support, as can the roommate's absence from the dormitory. Options A,
B, and F: The scenario does not provide data regarding a history of an earlier suicide attempt, a
family history of suicide, or of co-occurring medical illness.