癌症病患之自殺防治

與其他身體疾患近似，罹患癌症是自殺死亡的危險因子，而自殺意念也常見於癌症病人。面對癌症診斷的衝擊，特別是診斷初期，以及後續身體症狀或功能損失、情緒疾患、擔憂成為家人負擔、失去自主性等，皆與癌症病患之自殺風險相關。癌症病人自殺意念並非只是企圖自殺舉動前的預兆，更是病人面對疾病時，表達溝通情緒的適應性過程。自殺是結合多重因子導致的悲劇性結果，絕非單一因素可以解釋，將「全面性」、「選擇性」、「指標性」三大自殺防治策略，投射於目前既有的癌症防治工作中，也就是在既有服務體系內強化自殺防治功能，有助於達到「人人都是珍愛生命守門人」的境界。臨床工作人員對於病人自殺風險的了解與關注，落實心理社會靈性層面的全人關懷，非但是對自殺防治的投入，更是全人關懷臨床照護的實踐。

Cancer patients are commonly seen with suicidal ideation and they are faced with higher risks of suicidal death. The blow from cancer diagnosis followed by physical symptoms or functional loss, psychiatric disorders, fear of burdening the family, and loss of independence contribute to the increased suicidal risks. Suicidal ideation in cancer patients should be viewed as more than just a warning sign but also a way of expression and communication while they face and cope with their disease. Comprehensive whole-person patient care requires dedication beyond suicide prevention which takes the level of suicide risk management to clinical care encompassing psycho-socio-spiritual aspects.