Reasonable Hypothesis SOP [1] | 65 of 2016 as amended by 26 of 2017 and 33 of 2018 |
Balance of Probabilities SOP [1] | 66 of 2016 as amended by 27 of 2017 and 34 of 2018 |
SOP Bulletin 201 [2]
This SOP covers the act of taking one's own life, or the act of attempting to take one's own life but where there is a non-fatal outcome. These acts are not strictly diseases or injuries in themselves, but are given that status for DVA purposes. They may be a consequence of an underlying disease or may result in injury. In dealing with claims where suicide or attempted suicide is or appears to be involved, this SOP may not be the most appropriate SOP to apply to the claim, depending on the circumstances.
A diagnosis of attempted suicide should be made with caution. If an apparent suicide attempt has been made and claimed, a psychiatric report should be obtained. Consideration should then be given to whether an underlying psychiatric condition is present that should be diagnosed in answer to the claim in addition to, or instead of, a diagnosis of attempted suicide. Consideration should also be given to whether any injury has resulted from the suicide attempt that should be diagnosed and separately considered.
In the event of multiple suicide attempts being made and claimed, each should generally be considered as a separate event.
Similarly for suicide or apparent suicide - consider whether there is an underlying disease or a resultant injury to be diagnosed as the cause of death and apply the relevant SOP if appropriate.
The SOP factors do not include the usual "clinical onset" phrasing. The time of the act (of taking or attempting to take one's own life) is the equivalent of the clinical onset for the purposes of this SOP.
The SOP has a factor for inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for attempted suicide. It is difficult to see how this factor could apply in practice, unless the act itself was protracted (e.g. starvation, dehydration), but then the lack of appropriate treatment would most likely be deliberate rather than an inability.
Place holder node for Rulebase for suicide or attempted suicide
Suicide or attempted suicide - Borderline personality disorder Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Preliminary questions [20443]
28808 [4] there is some evidence that borderline personality disorder may be a factor in the veteran's attempt at or commission of suicide.
20475 [4] the veteran has suffered from borderline personality disorder at some time.
20476 [5] the veteran was suffering from borderline personality disorder at the time the veteran attempted or committed suicide. [6]
20477 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the borderline personality disorder and VEA service for suicide or attempted suicide.
20478 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the borderline personality disorder and operational service for suicide or attempted suicide.
or
20479 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the borderline personality disorder and eligible service for suicide or attempted suicide.
Clinical onset and operational service [20478]
20480 — the borderline personality disorder is causally related to operational service. [7] [8]
Clinical onset and eligible service [20479]
20481 — the borderline personality disorder is causally related to eligible service. [9] [8]
Suicide or attempted suicide - Experiencing a severe psychosocial stressor Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Investigative Documents
Medical Report - Severe Psychosocial Stressor - Suicide or Attempted Suicide [MR9229] Preliminary questions [20445]
18832 [11] the veteran has suffered from a severe psychosocial stressor at some time. 20491 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe psychosocial stressor and VEA service for suicide or attempted suicide. 20492 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe psychosocial stressor and operational service for suicide or attempted suicide. or 20493 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the severe psychosocial stressor and eligible service for suicide or attempted suicide. Clinical onset and operational service [20492] or 23723 — the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe psychosocial stressor, is causally related to operational service. [17] [18] Clinical onset and eligible service [20493] or
23724 — the identified illness or injury, which caused the severe psychosocial stressor, is causally related to eligible service. [24] [18]
Suicide or attempted suicide - Experiencing a traumatic event Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Investigative Documents
Medical Report - Traumatic Event - Suicide or Attempted Suicide [MR9230] Preliminary questions [20444]
20482 [26] the veteran has experienced , witnessed, or been confronted with a traumatic event or events at some time. 20483 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the traumatic event and VEA service for suicide or attempted suicide. 20484 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the traumatic event and operational service for suicide or attempted suicide. or 20485 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the traumatic event and eligible service for suicide or attempted suicide. Clinical onset and operational service [20484] or 28811 — the veteran experienced or witness, or was the veteran confronted with a traumatic event or events as a consequence of an illness or injury which is identifiable. 28813 — the identified illness or injury which caused the traumatic event or events is causally related to operational service. [30] [31] Clinical onset and eligible service [20485] or 28811 — the veteran experienced or witness, or was the veteran confronted with a traumatic event or events as a consequence of an illness or injury which is identifiable.
28816 — the identified illness or injury which caused the traumatic event or events is causally related to eligible service. [37] [31]
Suicide or attempted suicide - Having been a prisoner of war Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Clinical onset and operational service [20438]
30007 [38] there is some evidence that having been a prisoner of war may be a factor in the veteran's attempt at or commission of suicide.
292 [38] the veteran was a prisoner of war at some time. [39]
28805 — the veteran was a prisoner of war before the veteran attempted or committed suicide. [Default true]
Suicide or attempted suicide - Post traumatic stress disorder Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Preliminary questions [20440]
20456 [40] the veteran has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder at some time.
20457 [41] the veteran was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder at the time the veteran attempted or committed suicide. [42]
20458 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the post traumatic stress disorder and VEA service for suicide or attempted suicide.
20459 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the post traumatic stress disorder and operational service for suicide or attempted suicide.
or
20460 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the post traumatic stress disorder and eligible service for suicide or attempted suicide.
Clinical onset and operational service [20459]
20461 — the post traumatic stress disorder is causally related to operational service. [43] [44]
Clinical onset and eligible service [20460]
20462 — the post traumatic stress disorder is causally related to eligible service. [45] [44]
Suicide or attempted suicide - Psychiatric disorder with depressive features Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Preliminary questions [20439]
20448 [46] the veteran has suffered from a psychiatric disorder with depressive features at some time.
20449 [47] the veteran was suffering from a psychiatric disorder with depressive features at the time the veteran attempted or committed suicide. the psychiatric disorder with depressive features that the veteran was suffering from at the time the veteran attempted or committed suicide is an illness which is identifiable. [49]
20450 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the psychiatric disorder with depressive features and VEA service for suicide or attempted suicide.
20451 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the psychiatric disorder with depressive features and operational service for suicide or attempted suicide.
or
20452 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the psychiatric disorder with depressive features and eligible service for suicide or attempted suicide.
Clinical onset and operational service [20451]
20454 — the identified illness or injury, a psychiatric disorder with depressive features, is causally related to operational service. [50] [51]
Clinical onset and eligible service [20452]
20455 — the identified illness or injury, a psychiatric disorder with depressive features, is causally related to eligible service. [52] [51]
Suicide or attempted suicide - Psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Preliminary questions [20441]
7718 [53] the veteran has had psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol at some time.
28806 [54] the veteran was suffering from psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol at the time the veteran attempted or committed suicide. [55]
20464 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol and VEA service for suicide or attempted suicide.
20465 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol and operational service for suicide or attempted suicide.
or
20466 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol and eligible service for suicide or attempted suicide.
Clinical onset and operational service [20465]
7724 — the psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol is causally related to operational service. [56]
Clinical onset and eligible service [20466]
7725 — the psychoactive substance abuse or dependence involving alcohol is causally related to eligible service. [56]
Suicide or attempted suicide - Schizophrenia Factor
Last reviewed for CCPS 21 February 2000.
Preliminary questions [20442]
28807 [57] there is some evidence that schizophrenia may be a factor in the veteran's attempt at or commission of suicide.
20467 [57] the veteran has suffered from schizophrenia at some time.
20468 [58] the veteran was suffering from schizophrenia at the time the veteran attempted or committed suicide. [59]
20469 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the schizophrenia and VEA service for suicide or attempted suicide.
20470 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the schizophrenia and operational service for suicide or attempted suicide.
or
20471 — the veteran has established the causal connection between the schizophrenia and eligible service for suicide or attempted suicide.
Clinical onset and operational service [20470]
20473 — the schizophrenia is causally related to operational service. [60] [61]
Clinical onset and eligible service [20471]
20474 — the schizophrenia is causally related to eligible service. [62] [61]
Links
[1] http://www.rma.gov.au/sops/condition/suicide-and-attempted-suicide
[2] https://clik.dva.gov.au/system/files/media/SOP%20Bulletin%20201.pdf
[3] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=comment/reply/64170%23comment-form
[4] https://clik.dva.gov.au/standard-commentary-101
[5] clikpopup://CCPS/Suffering borderline personality disorder at time of attempted or committed suicide
[6] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20476No
[7] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20480No
[8] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20480,20481No
[9] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20481No
[10] https://clik.dva.gov.au/description-severe-psychosocial-stressor
[11] clikpopup://CCPS/Severe psychosocial stressor
[12] clikpopup://CCPS/reject18832No
[13] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20494No
[14] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20495No
[15] clikpopup://CCPS/rejectwilful
[16] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28818No
[17] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28819No
[18] clikpopup://CCPS/reject23723,23724No
[19] clikpopup://CCPS/Experienced severe psychosocial stressor within one year before attempted or committed suicide
[20] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20497No
[21] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20498No
[22] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20499No
[23] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28820No
[24] clikpopup://CCPS/reject23724No
[25] https://clik.dva.gov.au/ccpsmedical-229
[26] https://clik.dva.gov.au/ccpss017rc-5
[27] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20482No
[28] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20486No
[29] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20487No
[30] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28812No
[31] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28813,28816No
[32] clikpopup://CCPS/Traumatic event within one year before attempted or committed suicide
[33] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20488No
[34] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20489No
[35] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20490No
[36] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28815No
[37] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28816No
[38] https://clik.dva.gov.au/ccpsj004rc-2
[39] https://clik.dva.gov.au/reasons-decision-244
[40] clikpopup://CCPS/Post traumatic stress disorder
[41] clikpopup://CCPS/Suffering post traumatic stress disorder at time of attempted or committed suicide
[42] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20457No
[43] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20461No
[44] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20461,20462No
[45] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20462No
[46] https://clik.dva.gov.au/ccpss017rc
[47] https://clik.dva.gov.au/20438-being-prisoner-war
[48] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20449No
[49] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20453No
[50] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20454No
[51] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20454,20455No
[52] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20455No
[53] https://clik.dva.gov.au/ccpsk010rc-43
[54] clikpopup://CCPS/Suffering psychoactive substance abuse or alcohol dependence at time of attempted or committed suicide
[55] clikpopup://CCPS/reject28806No
[56] clikpopup://CCPS/reject7724,7725No
[57] https://clik.dva.gov.au/ccpsk010rc-34
[58] clikpopup://CCPS/Suffering schizophrenia at time of attempted or committed suicide
[59] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20468No
[60] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20473No
[61] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20473,20474No
[62] clikpopup://CCPS/reject20474No