Monday

Discussing Suicide

Talking about suicide is taboo. In a culture where traditional norms are being questioned and integration and acceptance are becoming the new themes, it’s hard to believe that so many people are afraid to talk about the subject.   In my Assessment and Appraisal class with Dr. Irene Garrick, we spent a good amount of time watching a very informative video about suicide (”Suicide Assessment and Prevention” by John Westefeld).  I want to discuss some key points that I was previously unaware of in order to get the conversation going and get this taboo topic out in the open.

• First of all, predicting and preventing suicide is tough to do.  Often times, the depressed individual has not made up their mind as to whether they want to commit suicide, so for a counselor to predict it is difficult.  However, that does not mean that suicide should not be prevented.  Providing a suicide workshop can have a positive influence on people suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts.

• It is beneficial to consider the message behind the behavior. Often times, when a person tries to commit suicide, they are asking for help.

• Often times, a person considering suicide feels as if they are isolated, have no one to talk to and feel as if they have no way to ask for help.  For this reason, simply getting a suicidal patient into therapy is crucial.
• No-harm contracts: This is a controversial issue.  Often times, therapists will make a contract with patients in which the patient agrees to not harm him or herself, while the therapist agrees to do everything he or she can to make the patient better.  This may be a good thing in forming a therapeutic alliance between counselor and patient.  It also provides some structure: usually, if a patient does not willingly sign a contract within 24 hours, they will be hospitalized.   However, some people may feel as if the therapist is simply covering their butt if a lawsuit should come about.  This is something that should be considered.
• Often times, depressed individuals will speak of losing their faith or no longer practicing their religion.  If their spirituality or religion was important to them previously, it is imperative to restore belief in that individual.
• If a therapist is particularly worried about a client, it may be beneficial to see them twice a week, with one of the days being Friday.  Sometimes, weekends can be particularly hard for people who are depressed.
• It is beneficial to make an “emergency plan.”  This means that if the client is not with the therapist and is worried about him or herself, he or she have a number they can call and talk to someone immediately.

For more information, please visit the American Association of Suicidality at http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/home.