Mental Health Professionals Archives - Page 3 of 4

The Most Dangerous Time: Suicide After Discharge from a Psychiatric Hospital

May 30, 2013

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There are many characteristics that place a person at higher risk for suicide – depression, substance use, a prior suicide attempt, as examples. It is important for clinicians to know that an especially dangerous characteristic, one that exponentially increases the chances of suicide,…

Documenting a Suicidal Client’s Risk: Do it Well, for their Sake and Yours

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

May 25, 2013

“Client denied suicidal ideation.” “Client reports suicidal ideation but lacks plan or intent.” “Client reported only mild suicidal thoughts.” Many clinicians use these phrases in their clinical notes – and then say nothing else about suicide risk. Such minimalism is not good…

Involuntary Hospitalization: From Ally to Adversary?

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

May 20, 2013

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You’re listening to a client describe very specific plans to attempt suicide by overdosing. She has 94 pills of a potentially lethal medication at home. She knows the number because she has counted, again and again, in a sort of ritual to…

Uncovering Suicidal Thoughts

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

May 15, 2013

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To help a person deal with suicidal thoughts, you first need to know they have them. The challenge here is that many people who seriously consider suicide hide it from their therapist. What To Ask if You Suspect a Client Has Suicidal…

The Case Against No-Suicide Contracts

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

May 15, 2013

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Suicide prevention experts discourage the use of no-suicide contracts. With a no-suicide contract, the client signs an agreement promising not to do anything to harm or kill himself or herself within a specified period of time. The contract may also “require” the…

Are You Afraid that Asking about Suicidal Thoughts will Anger the Person?

by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW

May 15, 2013

Many people are afraid to ask a person if he or she is considering suicide, because they fear the person will get angry. The thinking goes, if I ask about suicide, they will assume I think they are crazy or unstable. I…