Suicide Prevention Pastoral Care

Suicide Prevention Pastoral Care


PASTORAL APPROACH IN SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CARE.
One suicide victim who committed suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge left behind a note saying: “I’m going to walk to the bridge. If one person smiles at me on the way, I will not jump.”
THE QUESTION:
• Asking “Are you thinking about suicide?” is the first step towards suicide prevention.
• No evidence exists to suggest that asking about suicide either encourages or stimulates such behavior.
• The response of your service user will help you ascertain their level of risk as well as determine next steps.

Requires medical attention and/or emergency services!
• Threatening to hurt or kill self
• Looking for ways to kill self; seeking access to pills, weapons or other means
• Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide

Risk Factors
• Axes I and 2—Psychopathology and Personality Traits
– Major Affective Illness—most important. 50% of suicides have major depression. Other mental conditions are associated, especially substance use disorders. Little relationship with dementia. (Among Veterans, PTSD has been associated with prior and current suicide ideation, but not with current risk once other correlates have been partialed out.)
– Neuroticism, rigidity, anxiety, and obsessiveness.
• Physical Illness (Axis III)—Chronic serious conditions as well as chronic pain.
• Social Context (Axis IV)—Variety of stressors, especially social isolation, bereavement, and family strife.
• Functioning (Axis V)—Disability.
• Hopelessness
• Rage, anger, seeking revenge
• Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking
• Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out
• Withdrawing from friends, family or society
• Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
• Dramatic changes in mood
• No reason for living, no sense of purpose in life
• Current psychiatric diagnosis.
• Dysphoria/Negative emotion (apathy, rage, anhedonia, etc.).
• Drinking or drug...

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