evaluating the suicide plan

Question 1

step 1

Answer 1

How lethal is it? When a person has admitted planning to end it all, you can ask, “How are you thinking of killing yourself?” Sometimes the harsh words can bring home the reality of the situation. Shooting and hanging are considered the most lethal methods, barbiturates and carbon monoxide poisoning are second. The lethality of a method is measured by how abruptly the point of no return is reached. Other methods are explosives, knives, poisoning and drowning.

Question 2

step 2

Answer 2

How available is it? If a gun or bottle of pills is at hand, the risk is greater. Ask what kind of pills are available to the counselee and where they are. If he or she plans to use a gun, ask, “Do you have a gun? Where is it? Do you have bullets for it?”

Question 3

step 3

Answer 3

How specific is the plan? If the person has worked out the details very well, the risk is higher. If the person says, “I have 100 pills here and I am also going to turn on the gas. I have covered the cracks around the door and windows so the gas will stay in,” then the suicide most likely is preplanned. However, if the person says that he or she has to go out and buy the pills or the gun or a hose for the car exhaust, the risk is lower.