Spirituality/Medicine Interface Project

Suicide: Where Can Help Be Found?

Authors: Diane Elizabeth Meglin, MSW, LCSW, DCSW

Abstract

A discussion of resources available must address the point at which a person (patient) becomes suicidal, what medical, psychological and spiritual condition she is in, and to whom she can turn for help. Given the high correlation between suicide and severe depression, ideally, the patient would have options for emergent mental health evaluation and good follow-up care. Evidence-based treatment methods now exist to treat patients with recurrent self-harm and parasuicidal behaviors.1,2 Clinicians should consider the patient's history, diagnosis, family history, biomedical factors, mental health issues, psychosocial stressors, lethal intent and general risk factors. In addition, they should assess protective factors, ie, barriers for suicide, including the patient's reasons for living versus dying, the impact their death might have on significant others, and their beliefs about the religious or spiritual consequences of completing suicide.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Linehan MM. Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder. New York, The Guilford Press, 1993.
 
2. Linehan MM, Dimeff L. Dialectical behavior therapy in a nutshell. The California Psychologist 2001;34:10–13.
 
3. Assessing and Treating Suicidal Behaviors: A Quick Reference Guide based on the APA (2003) Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Patients with Suicidal Behaviors. Available at: http://www.psych.org. Accessed May 21, 2007.
 
4. American Psychiatric Association. Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Treatment of Patients with Suicidal Behaviors. Arlington, American Psychiatric Publishing, 2003, pp 10–14.
 
5. Jackson J. SOS: A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide. American Association of Suicidology 2003. Available at: http://www.suicidology.org.
 
6. American Foundation of Suicide Prevention Homepage Mission Statement 2007. Available at: http://www.afsp.org.