Suicide presentation
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This document discusses suicide risk assessment and intervention. It provides information on: - The common purposes of suicide as seeking a solution to problems and ending suffering. - Warning signs of suicide risk like hopelessness, helplessness, and escape-seeking behaviors. - Key risk factors like depression, previous attempts, substance abuse, and relationship or health problems. - Effective questions to ask someone expressing suicidal thoughts to determine risk and get help like "Have you thought about killing yourself?" and eliciting details of plans, history, reasons for living, and willingness to seek help. - The importance of active listening, persuading the person to get help, and referring them to emergency services if at high risk.
Suicide presentation
- 1. Brenda L. Melton, Ph.D., LPC-S, NBCT The University ofTexas at SanAntonio
- 2. “The common purpose of suicide is to seek a solution. Suicide is not a random act. It is never done pointlessly or purposelessly. It is a way out of a problem, a dilemma, a bind, a crisis, an unbearable situation. It has an inexorable logic and impetus of its own… Every suicide makes this statement:‘This far, and no further.’” Edwin Scheidman, Ph.D.
- 3. I find hope in the darkest of days,and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. ~Dalai Lama 80 Million Reasons
- 4. To seek a solution to one or more seemingly insoluble problems Bad grades Failed relationship Not getting accepted to college A personally humiliating exposure No suicide is a random act; all have purpose and meaning Solve the problem and suicide loses it appeal
- 5. Helplessness “I can’t do anything to fix what is wrong.” Hopelessness The utter belief that nothing will ever be right or well or bright again forever and ever.
- 6. “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” Phil Donohue
- 7. Escape Suicide provides a way out when none is otherwise perceived. For humans, there is always a well lighted exit sign over the door to death.
- 8. A previous suicide Talking about being dead or wishing they were dead Repeatedly engaging in very risky or dangerous thrill seeking behavior. "Getting the house in order" Extreme mood swings Regular expressions of worthlessness, helplessness, sadness and/or loneliness.
- 9. Drastic changes in habits, friends, or appearance, ie; new friends, skipping school, dropping out of favorite activities, and no longer caring about appearance or cleanliness. Changes in weight, sleeping habits, and physical activity. Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities that once gave the person pleasure or a sense of identity
- 10. Sex (male) Age (younger than 19 or older than 45 years of age) Depression (severe enough to be considered clinically significant) Previous suicide attempts or received mental health services of any kind Excessive alcohol or other drug use
- 11. Rational thinking lost Separated, divorced, or widowed (or other ending of significant relationship) Organized suicide plan or serious attempt No or little social support Sickness or chronic medical illness Retrieved from Medicinenet.com
- 12. Assessment is based on: How much we learn from the person The context in which suicide is being considered Recognition of warning signs Presence of risk factors Presence of protective factors What the suicidal person is willing to do to help us save his or her life
- 13. Have you had thoughts of killing yourself? Are you considering suicide? Are you contemplating ending your life? Have you had any personal thoughts of death or suicide?
- 14. Q for Question the person about suicide P for Persuade the person to get help R for Referring the person to someone who can help
- 15. What is wrong? Elicits the person’s narrative explanation or “story.” Person’s perspective Value in story telling/emotional release Clarify and understand
- 16. Elicits the precipitating event or events Current crisis Hopeless a long time Magnitude of change event doesn’t matter No reserves left Hair trigger condition Final straw “I just can’t take it anymore.”
- 17. Elicits methods of suicide under consideration Only so many ways to die How (name them) Access to means More than one method Degree of lethal planning Backup plan
- 18. Elicits possible location and timing of a suicide attempt Lethal planning (less is good) Soon, Next week, Next year Anniversary date Uncontrolled contingency, e.g.,“If she leaves.” Home or work Chance of rescue
- 19. Elicits important suicide history Past attempts Past suicidal ideation Rescue sought or avoided Timing of attempt Social response to attempt What saved them New method vs. old method
- 20. Elicits protective factors Reasons for living Spiritual or religious prohibitions Duties to others/pets Tidying up or‘to do list’ before dying Fear of death More reasons is good, none is bad Low risk does not equal no risk
- 21. Your active listening and questions may have already won the battle Find life-affirming solutions Greater risk Refusal to seek help Angry Unwillingness to give up means Refuse help- reassess risk
- 22. Relationship Trust Resources ‘How to’ instructions Personalize the endorsement
- 23. Suicide risk is determined, in large part, by the person’s willingness to assume personal responsibility for his or her own safety.
- 24. What do you do if it is an emergency, life or death, situation? If possible, call the parents, inform them of what is going on Have emergency personnel transport person to the Emergency Room. The ER will do a complete evaluation: Physician’s Evaluation Mental Health Evaluation Admit to the hospital or refer to services in the Community
- 25. The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering.” Ben Okri