Strategies for understanding and assessing suicide risk in psychotherapy This possibility-one continuing education credit is co-sponsored by the American College of Forensic International (ACFEI) and the American Association of psychotherapy. ACFEI retains responsibility for all continuing education accreditations. This article is approved by the following for 1 continuing education credit:
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This organization, the American College of Forensic international approval number 1052, is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards 400 South Ridge Parkway, Suite B, Culpeper, VA 22701. www.aswb.org. ASWB Approval Period: 13/09/2004 to 13/09/2007. Social workers should contact their regulatory body to determine course approval. Social workers will receive 1 continuing education clock hours in participating in this course.
Suicide is one of the few topics that almost uniformly triggers of anxiety and apprehension in clinicians, students, beginners as well as experienced practitioners (Rudd, 2006). In addition, the actual assessment and subsequent treatment plans for clients may be suicidal efforts more difficult clinical mental health practitioners may face during their careers. The literature shows that it is often the case because one of the results of neglect in this area is inevitable and customer liability resulting for the clinician (Jobes, 2006; Jobes & Drozd, 2004; Packman, Marlitt, Bongars, & O'Connor-Pennuto, 2004; Bongars and Peruzzi, 1994). Perhaps this explains why psychotherapists seem to focus on collecting data surrounding the fatality and risk factors instead of exploring the narrative history of suicidal client (Rogers & Soyka, 2004). As Schwartz and Rogers (2004) explain, psychotherapists should realize that although they will be unable to successfully prevent all cases of suicide due to the unpredictability of human nature, clinicians can reduce the number of suicides being able to better identify at-risk populations and common themes of suicidality. However, clinicians should also remember not to omit a thorough exploration of personal meaning of suicide for a particular client.
About 71% of psychotherapists management report at least one customer who has attempted suicide, with 28% reporting having had at least one client die by suicide (Rogers, Gueulette Abbey-Hines, Carney, & Werth, 2001). For psychotherapists, the psychological impact of losing a client by suicide is similar to the stress and trauma that is experienced in the death of a loved one (Chemtob, Hamada, Bauer, Torigoe, and Kinney, 1988). Therefore, the updated information of risk factors surrounding suicide, myths, assessment strategies, treatment options, and additional resources are needed when working with this particularly difficult.
Information on risk factors for suicide
Suicide takes the lives of more than 30,000 Americans.
Posted on April 26, 2010.
