Skip to main content

Suicide During the Pandemic

 

This past week, I had the opportunity to attend a training about Suicide Assessment & Prevention.  And it got me thinking about society's collective mental health condition as a result of the "Quarantine" over the past almost 6 months.  

Isolation, even partially, is especially difficult for many people.  People who regular socialize with many people, who consider themselves extroverts, and who get their energy from being with people, are especially affected during this pandemic.  The lack or decrease of being around people significantly impairs their emotional well-being.  This puts more people at a higher risk of suicide.

I have a full time job as a Social Work Supervisor with Child Protective Services AND I work as a private practice therapist.  In those roles, I have to be keenly aware of any changes in mood, even ever so slight, that could indicate that someone I work with or one of my clients is depressed or having suicidal thoughts.  While this is something that I must be aware of at all times, I've found that I must now pay extra close attention to warning signs and I must ask difficult questions.

Some of the professional responsibilities a therapist has are:

1)  to make reasonable effort to identify risk factors for suicide

2)  take reasonable action to prevent a client from harming themselves

3)  may exchange information in order to provide appropriate treatment

4)  may exchange information with a party reasonably able to prevent or lessen harm.

The training I attended, reminded me of the seriousness of asking screening questions of clients regarding suicidality.  These questions are often awkward to ask and I believe that many therapists may be afraid to ask, because either (1) they're afraid to give their client any ideas and (2) they don't feel fully equipped to deal with the answer.  But what we find is that if a client has contemplated suicide at all, then your mention of it isn't going to be the tipping point or isn't going to suddenly put the idea in their head.  So, instead of being afraid to give them the idea, you should be asking about it, inviting them to share what's on their mind.  Some phrases people say when they're thinking about suicide are, "All of my problems will end soon.", "I just can't take it anymore", and "I can't do anything right."  These phrases are invitations for us to ask questions, to show there are other solutions, to show them there IS help.  

If you're afraid you're not equipped to deal with the answers, then consider just being present with the client as they express themselves.  Normalize their experiences and be direct with them.  

To assess for suicidality:

1)  Identify risk factors - not those that can be modified to reduce risk

2)  Identify Protective Factors - note those that can be enhanced

3)  Conduct Suicide Inquiry - suicidal thoughts, plans, behavior, and intent

4)  Determine Risk Level/Intervention - determine risk; choose appropriate intervention to address and reduce risk

5)  Document - assessment of risk, rationale, intervention, and follow-up

Suicide is a scary thing, both in life and in our clinical experience.  Right now, our clients needs us more than ever.  These times of COVID are unprecedented times and people have not experienced this level of isolation and depression in a very long time.  

Children are experiencing an inability to socialize, which is retarding their cognitive and social abilities.  Part of a child's normal and necessary learning and development comes from socialization with peers their age.  So, we have to ask what will be the consequences of this pandemic on our children, over the next few months and years.

Adults are out of work and experiencing financial and emotional stress, which decreases their ability to cope, leading to addiction, domestic violence, and physical abuse.  Many people are unable to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Please make sure you're taking care of yourself and your loved ones.  Seek help if you need it.  

Check on your friends and family and make sure they're doing okay.  Suggest help if they need it.

Help is available.  There is hope.  There are solutions.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1-800-273-8255


Website:  www.brittaniedmillslmft.com

Instagram:  @brittaniedmillslmft

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/brittaniedmillslmft

Email:  bdmills@brittaniedmillslmft.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Down & Dirty of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

This past week, I had the opportunity to attend a 2 hour DBT 101 training, free through my employer.  As a Child Protective Services social worker, I have seen the benefits of DBT with various clients over the years and knew it had some very valuable tools, but I had never taken the time to learn much about it.  So I thought this was my opportunity.  Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) centers around the fact that two opposing facts can be true at the same time.  For example - "I am tough, but I'm also gentle." or my favorite, "I'm doing the best I can, and I can do better."  DBT is an evidence based practice that stems from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and was originally created to treat Borderline Personality Disorder. I learned about the Bio-Social Theory around DBT.  Bio - there is a biological vulnerability to emotions and Social - an invalidating environment that communicates that what you're feeling, thinking or doing doesn't make sense. 
Post a Comment
Read more

Behind the Couch: Understanding Why Therapists Opt Out of Insurance

  Behind the Couch:  Understanding Why Therapists Opt Out of Insurance As a therapist, I've noticed an increase in the number of people who want/need to use their insurance benefits to receive therapy.  And, to be honest, when I first sought out a therapist for myself, I felt the exact same way.   I understand.  Therapy can be a very costly investment.  But that's how you have to think about it - as an investment...in yourself and your mental and emotional well-being. But working as a therapist, I've learned that there are some definite reasons that you may not want to use your inusrance benefits. Let me take a few moments to explain. Insurance Requires a Diagnosis In order to use your insurance for therapy benefits, the insurance company requires that the providing therapist give a diagnosis.  That means that once you enter into therapy using your health insurance benefits, there is a documented record of a mental health diagnosis on file for you.  And that record may stay
Post a Comment
Read more

Empty Nest

  Empty Nest - Now What? Your children are all grown and have moved out and are moving on with their own lives.  The constant influx of people in the house or at the dinner table has disappeared.  The hustle and bustle has died down.  And now you're left with just the two of you. Now it's time to rediscover yourselves as individuals, and maybe even more importantly, as a married couple.  The last several decades or more have been devoted to rearing your children and launching them into adulthood.  But now you find yourself with extra time and maybe extra energy on your hands. Leisure Time Maybe now that all the children's activities and obligations have gone, you find yourself with a lot of extra time.  Instead of dwelling on the absence of your children, focus on things you can now do with that time.  Take a nap.  Read a book.  Learn to cook or bake.  Sign up for some local classes or groups.  Or maybe you need something more practical.  You can do something productive lik
Post a Comment
Read more