Posted by Rzip on November 22, 2000, at 16:17:54
In reply to contract 4 suicidal friend, posted by julesvox on November 22, 2000, at 9:52:12
> anyone have suggestions on/experience w/ doing a contract w/a suicidal friend & feel like sharing? i'm talking to my therapist & i'll search archives too ;) thanks
I have found that this guideline works:
FIRST STEP: Find a quiet and private room to initiate the conversation... (Focus: establish a supportive relationship and help the person to regain TEMPORARY mental stability)1) Ask the person what prompt the suicidal idealizations.
2a) Encourage and "provoke" emotions from the person. Get the person to express the despair emotionally, in words. Personally, I have found that having soft pillows or any soft object (stress balls) nearby helps. Somehow, punching the pillows kind of helps to elicit verbal emotions more readily.
2b) Use the words "suicide" or "death" in your dialogue. It helps to draw the person to speak about his/her suicidal idealizations.
3) Help the person to realize hope (alternative options, etc...). Point out that crisis by definition is not prolonged. Help the person to regain faith and hope in the IMMEDIATE future.
STEP TWO: Once the person is speaking more coherently and seems to have regain some mental stability...suggest that they speak with a professional. Only trained professional can pull the person out of the crisis zone and into a prolong state of stability.
STEP THREE: Very important for your own well being...talk with someone after the crisis is over. There is always a great amount of stress imported on yourselves in this tense situation. People always feel responsibility for the life or death status of the patient after crisis intervention (unless you are trained for it... then, you learn where to draw the line). Cold fact: people determined to commit suicide will find a way to do so.
Hope that helps,
Rzip
poster:Rzip
thread:3138
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20001117/msgs/3168.html