CONCLUSION
Suicide—the deliberate ending of one’s own life—is an important public health concern around the world. Many complex factors contribute to a person’s decision to die by suicide, including biologic, psycho-sociocultural elements, and adverse life events. One important thing to consider is that most people are ambivalent about dying by suicide. They are caught in a situation from which they see no way out but to end their lives. This ambivalence is important, as it is the starting point at which an effective intervention can occur.
It is imperative that healthcare professionals understand the ways in which they can assess and manage suicidal individuals and learn the skills necessary to effectively intervene and prevent a suicide from happening. These skills include:
- Recognizing who is at risk, especially those who may be at high risk in the near future
- Learning how to communicate openly with those suspected to be at risk
- Responding to the needs of persons who have attempted suicide and survived in order to prevent future suicidal behavior
- Working with survivors of a suicide loss to help protect them from consequences such as taking their own lives, PTSD, and depression
- Providing suicide prevention education to others
RESOURCES
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ)
Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
988 or 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255)
866-833-6546 Teen Link
741741 Crisis Text Line
Suicide prevention (National Institute of Mental Health)
Suicide resources (CDC)
Veterans Crisis Line
800-273-8255 Press 1
838255 Text Line
Washington State
Suicide prevention (WA State DOH)
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