Safety Needs, Suicide, and Crisis Intervention

Question 1

More veterans die from this than in combat. For every 8 people with ideation, 1 attempts. About 5% of those who die from this have been psychiatrically hospitalized. Considered a sentinel event within healthcare institutions.

Answer 1

Suicide

Question 2

Risk factors include ideation with active intent, plan with concrete details and means, refusal of contracts for safety, desperation, previous attempts, death of loved one by same means, lack of support, hopelessness, isolation, intolerable emotional/physical pain, lost motivation to live, large amount of perceived distress over recent stressors, and current substance use.

Answer 2

Suicide

Question 3

Situation in which consultation with appropriate specialists to ensure no treatment option was missed is necessary.

Answer 3

Sustained suicidality over prolonged period

Question 4

Hazard or precipitating event that causes disequilibrium related disorganized and failure of past coping mechanisms to handle new issue.

Answer 4

Crisis

Question 5

1. Confrontation of hazard threatens self-concept and produces temporary disequilibrium. 2. Usual problem-solving techniques fail, increasing disequilibrium. 3. Emergency problem-solving resources were implemented and failed, further increasing disequilibrium; panic occurs. 4. Major disruptive state or disorganization occurs.

Answer 5

Phases of crisis

Question 6

Arises from external events like loss, change in employment or financial status, change in status of significant other, physical illness, suicide.

Answer 6

Situational crises

Question 7

Results from significant personal or pandemic disasters like fires, earthquakes, riots, crimes of violence.

Answer 7

Adventitious crises

Question 8

Identify hazard/precipitating event, identify perception of event, identify coping mechanisms, assess potential for suicide or violent behavior, and clearly identify situational support (both social and professional).

Answer 8

Crisis assessment

Question 9

Therapeutic factors include compassion, objectivity, encouragement and non-judgement, provision of safe space for expression. Restating problem, correction of cognitive distortions, implementation of adaptive coping mechanisms, identifying and including significant others, and working through stages of conflict (frustration, conceptualization, taking action, and resolution).

Answer 9

Crisis intervention