PMHNP

What to look for: warning signs of suicidal thoughts

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:15:48 +0000

What to look for: warning signs of suicidal thoughts Mary Cunningham Mon, 09/12/2022 - 09:15

In This Story

K. Pierre Eklou, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, shares expertise on what behaviors may be signs of suicidal thoughts and how to help.

The pandemic has increased general awareness and promotion of mental health; however, roughly 46,000 Americans die by suicide each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This translates to about one death every 11 minutes. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10-14 and 25-34.

During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September), K. Pierre Eklou, assistant professor in the Department of Nursing, shines light on this often-stigmatized topic and promotes suicide prevention.

“Suicide does not occur in a vacuum. There are always warning signs; knowing those can help prevent suicide,” said Eklou, who is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and runs Mason’s PMHNP program. “Suicidal thoughts can manifest differently in each person, so there’s a range of behaviors to watch for. If you are worried about someone, seek help. If you are worried about yourself, seek help. You are not alone.”

Warning Signs of Suicidal Thoughts

Thoughts or discussion of wanting to die or having no reason to live
Thoughts of being a burden to others
Feeling isolated or withdrawn
Engaging in risky or reckless behavior
Exhibiting mood swings

Lack of interest in future plans
Increasing use of alcohol or other illicit substances
Acting anxious or agitated
Sleeping too much or too little
Giving away possessions

Saying “goodbye” to family, friends, or loved ones
Looking for ways to kill oneself

What should you do if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts?

If you are having suicidal thoughts, know that you are not alone, and help is available. If you know someone who is exhibiting suicidal warning signs, reach out to them and a professional for help. View Mason’s list of suicide prevention resources here.

Anyone in the United States can call or text 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, to be connected to trained counselors who will listen, understand how someone’s problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is working to change the conversation from “suicide” to “suicide prevention” to promote help and healing and to give hope.

If you are in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, contact 988 the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Dr. Kossi Pierre Eklou is an assistant professor for the School of Nursing at ��ӽ紫ý. He is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and is Mason’s PMHNP program coordinator. Eklou’s education and research interests include psychiatric/mental health nursing, substance use disorders, and population health with a focus on the underserved. Born in Togo (West Africa), Eklou has a particular interest in the mental health care and education of those living in Sub-Saharan Africa.

For media inquiries about Mason’s mental and behavioral health faculty experts, contact Michelle Thompson at 703-993-3485 or mthomp7@gmu.edu.

About Mason

��ӽ紫ý, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Health and Human Services

The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to become leaders and to shape the public's health through academic excellence, research of consequence, community outreach, and interprofessional clinical practice. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including 6 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 6 certificate programs. The college is transitioning to a college of public health in the near future. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/.

Thumbnail photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash.

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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Supports Student’s Goal of More Compassionate Care

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 21:00:45 +0000

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Supports Student’s Goal of More Compassionate Care Mary Cunningham Tue, 07/12/2022 - 17:00

Future psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Hiba Masood works in the Population Health Center's behavioral health center.

Future psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Hiba Masood intends to use the power of education to fight substance use disorder misinformation.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) student Hiba Masood found her true calling to enter the field of psychiatry amidst the pandemic. With the advent of COVID-19 came a rise in psychiatric illness and the incidence of fatal overdoses. Unfortunately, this also coincided with a shortage of health care providers. Thus, Hiba returned to Mason to become a PMHNP and increase access to compassionate behavioral health care.

“Patient care can be considered an art that requires a scientific foundation and authenticity. Evidence-based practice is required to provide appropriate care, though it takes the unique experiences of practitioners to provide more individualized care,” she said. “Substance use disorder needs support, non-judgmental care, and compassion.”

As an alumna of Mason’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program, Hiba knew that Mason was the best place to further her education in order to gain additional skills to help those with substance use disorder. Mason’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification prepares graduates to perform a variety of mental health services including medication management. PMHNP’s perform a variety of roles including but not limited to conducting assessments, prescribing medication, and providing psychotherapy

Hands-on learning experiences are an essential part of the program. Hiba recently assisted in launching the Population Health Center’s behavioral health clinic. Alongside her cohort, Hiba learned the theory and practice of advanced practice psychiatric nursing in a variety of practice settings within the health care delivery system. Under the guidance of licensed preceptors, students working toward their PMHNP certification meet patients during their initial evaluation and follow them through their treatment journey. (Read more about the Population Health Center’s behavioral health clinic.)

“We are doing so much more than writing papers and trying to pass exams,” said Hiba. “One of the greatest experiences during this program is the ability to apply education into practice ensuring we are utilizing evidence based and individualized patient care.”

Mason’s instructors are a part of what makes the College special and why Hiba chose to continue her education here. She spotlights Dr. Melanie Yousefi, who has supported her throughout the PMHNP program in both the instructional and clinical settings.

“The faculty are remarkable, very caring, and supportive,” she said. “They have so much experience and education that they share with us, ensuring we are prepared to support our community.”

Removing the Stigma of Substance Use Disorder

Hiba is a strong advocate for shedding light on the realities of substance use disorder as a disease rather than a behavior that requires punishment or isolation. She has seen first-hand how the negative perceptions of substance use disorder have dissuaded people from seeking health care. Hiba wants to educate those whose perceptions have been skewed by misinformation.

“When people feel judged they hide away and go through such a dangerous disease process alone,” said Hiba. “With education and compassion, we can remove that stigma, so those who need help are more encouraged to come forward to get the support they need without societal judgment or fear of criminalization.”

Those who suffer from substance use disorder often experience comorbidities including other psychiatric and medical disorders that can go untreated due to stigmatization. Hiba describes how the societally imposed shame associated with substance use disorder causes those who need compassion and support to combat this illness without help.

“People with substance use disorders are human, just like you and me and should be treated with dignity and respect. Substance use disorder is a chronic disease that necessitates holistic care similar to other diseases like diabetes or hypertension. Those battling with substance use disorder deserve the right to receive care like anyone else and live their best life,” Hiba said.

Hiba also notes the importance of utilizing medically appropriate language when referring to substance use disorders as a piece of de-stigmatization. There is a growing movement among health professionals to avoid perpetuating the negative attitudes associated with terms such as drug user and addict. Using vocabulary such as “a person with a substance use disorder” removes the blame from individuals and reframes substance use as a disorder.

No Such Thing as One Size Fits All

Before starting the PMHNP certification process, Hiba worked in cardiology as a Registered Nurse (RN), in an inner-city hospital. She worked closely with the homeless population and incarcerated individuals, where the prevalence of substance use disorder and cooccurring illnesses are statistically higher. In her career as a RN and FNP, Hiba has always made it a priority to meet her patients’ individualized needs and ensure the patient’s support system is prepared to help them outside of her care. She has interned at various inpatient and outpatient facilities, including the College’s Population Health Center behavioral health clinic.

After completing her time at the behavioral health clinic and earning the title of PMHNP, Hiba is committed to putting her education into practice as well as her compassionate nature.

Providing medication-assisted treatment is one of the ways she plans to assist in the interdisciplinary care necessary for substance use disorder treatment. Hiba also plans on working with the adolescent population, supporting them through a vulnerable developmental time frame.

If you or someone you know is suffering from substance use disorder Mason’s Student Support and Advocacy Center offers resources.

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population health center