Introduction Suicide continues to be prevalent on a world-wide basis. Statistically speaking, 1 million people kill themselves each year which is the equivalent of about one person every 40 seconds (James & Gilliland, 2015). Working with clients who may be potentially suicidal is a challenging job for any skilled professional. Counselors are still struggling to understand suicide, to assess it in their clients, and to properly classify what suicide risk level their client is at presently.
Case Description A woman named Amy has called in to a crisis hotline because she feels that she has no one else to help her. She is on her way to Oklahoma City to be with her sister because her boyfriend has become increasingly violent and she is pregnant. …show more content…
The Suicide Risk Decision tree involves assessing three “core” indicators of suicide risk (i.e., past suicidal behavior, current suicidal desire/ideation, and current resolved plans and preparations, all of which will be discussed in more detail below) as well as some additional risk and protective factors (Bartlett, et. al., 2012). When completing the decision tree, the data from the aforementioned areas must be obtained and inputted into the decision tree to determine how high the acquired capability of suicide attempt risk level is, and then using the risk level to determine appropriate intervention (James & Gilliland, 2015). This assessment is evidence-based and achievable which means that even novice graduate students can implement it.
Evaluation
The Suicide Risk Assessment Decision Tree isn’t too complicated in that basic yes or no questions are asked to determine how pronounced and present the person’s capability of killing themselves in that present moment is. Based on the answers given, high acquired capability would include multiple suicide attempts or three of the following five symptoms: single suicide attempt, aborted attempt, self-injecting drug use, self-harm practices such as cutting, frequent exposure …show more content…
Suicide is a universal issue in that it effects every segment of society. The professionals who deal with suicidal clients need to know all the different types and characteristics of suicide. Along with knowing the various types and characteristics, knowing how to properly assess them is undeniably important. To those one million people who take their lives every year, properly assessing suicide risk is important. To that one person who takes their life every 40 seconds, properly assessing suicide risk is important. For all those family members and loved ones who lost someone from suicide, properly assessing suicide risk is
Case Description A woman named Amy has called in to a crisis hotline because she feels that she has no one else to help her. She is on her way to Oklahoma City to be with her sister because her boyfriend has become increasingly violent and she is pregnant. …show more content…
The Suicide Risk Decision tree involves assessing three “core” indicators of suicide risk (i.e., past suicidal behavior, current suicidal desire/ideation, and current resolved plans and preparations, all of which will be discussed in more detail below) as well as some additional risk and protective factors (Bartlett, et. al., 2012). When completing the decision tree, the data from the aforementioned areas must be obtained and inputted into the decision tree to determine how high the acquired capability of suicide attempt risk level is, and then using the risk level to determine appropriate intervention (James & Gilliland, 2015). This assessment is evidence-based and achievable which means that even novice graduate students can implement it.
Evaluation
The Suicide Risk Assessment Decision Tree isn’t too complicated in that basic yes or no questions are asked to determine how pronounced and present the person’s capability of killing themselves in that present moment is. Based on the answers given, high acquired capability would include multiple suicide attempts or three of the following five symptoms: single suicide attempt, aborted attempt, self-injecting drug use, self-harm practices such as cutting, frequent exposure …show more content…
Suicide is a universal issue in that it effects every segment of society. The professionals who deal with suicidal clients need to know all the different types and characteristics of suicide. Along with knowing the various types and characteristics, knowing how to properly assess them is undeniably important. To those one million people who take their lives every year, properly assessing suicide risk is important. To that one person who takes their life every 40 seconds, properly assessing suicide risk is important. For all those family members and loved ones who lost someone from suicide, properly assessing suicide risk is