Problem:
This paper will be reviewing a specific example of an individual that struggles with a history of suicidal ideation. I will provide a brief summary regarding Naomi's situation. I will then discuss with you how I completed my assessment of Naomi. Next, I will review possible intervention that could be used to help manage Naomi's thoughts of suicide. Lastly, I will review strategies that can be utilized to prevent someone from attempting suicide. Need Assignment Help?
Summary of Naomi:
Naomi is a 16-year-old female that is accompanied by her parents. Naomi presents with scratches on her wrist and a note stating, "I just wish I wouldn't wake up in the morning". Naomi has a history of suicidal ideation. When she was 15, Naomi told a friend that she was going to take her father's pain meds in attempt to overdose. Luckily her friend told her parents and no harm occurred. Naomi's parents share that Naomi tends to sleep a lot and has frequent changes in her mood and is irritable with fits of rage. Naomi's mother has a history of suicidal ideation and is currently taking antidepressant and antianxiety medication.
Assessment:
When assessing for suicide risk, there are four main focuses. First the desire of suicide, capability, suicidal intent, and buffers (Fisher, 2023). When completing the assessment for Naomi, I would want to assure that she is actively engaging in the assessment. When there is a lack of engagement, there is likely an immanent safety concern with the patient. The reason for completing this assessment for Naomi is due to her scratches found on her wrist and notes stating that she wished not to wake up. In addition, Naomi has a past history of suicidal ideation, along with a family history of suicide attempts from her mother and her grandfather ended his life. Naomi has experienced a triggering event that is identified as a relationship problem due to her boyfriend being seen with another girl. Based on the information provided, Naomi appears to have frequent thoughts of falling asleep and wishing not to wake up. Objective signs of self-harm are present from the scratch present on Naomi's wrists, it appears that this cutting behavior is identified as self-harm and not an attempt to end her life but is concerning due to her past history of suicidal ideation. I would want to further ask Naomi about her reasons for dying and living. I would then need to determine if Naomi is at an acute risk of suicide. This will lead to our next section, interventions.
Interventions
There have been 4 main interventions that have been identified to promote mental health care and the reduction of suicide attempts in patients. The first intervention is brief contact interventions, which includes, phone calls, postcards, and letters (Fox et al., 2020). This increase contact provided caring contact and helps ensure that the patient is engaging in mental health support. Second, care coordination, this is the coordination of the primary care team and the mental health care provider (Fox et al., 2020). The communication is essential in the success of the patient along with communication between the providers and the patient. Third, safety planning intervention. By creating a safety plan with the patient, it will help them identify warning signs of suicidal crisis and identify coping strategies that can help distract the patient from their thoughts of suicide. This safety plan will also identify safe individuals in their life that can be contacted when they are having suicidal thoughts. Most important, this safety plan will help identify if their environment is safe. Lastly, brief therapeutic interventions. This is done thought motivational interviewing. The goal of motivation interviewing is to show empathy to the patient and have the patient take an active role in making a change in their life. I will now move into preventative strategies concerning patients at risk of suicide.
Suicide Prevention
Everyone can play a role in preventing suicide and helping others in crisis, but they firs must understand the issues that concern suicide and mental health. Lifeline (2023) share the importance belief that hope can happen by providing support and directing help to those in need. We can take action by reducing the individuals access to the means of self-harm and talking about suicide. As a provider, APA (2023) states that psychologist can disclose confidential information without patients consent to protect the patients from self-harm under the standard 4.05b. When considering our example of Naomi, if Naomi had an active plan to end her life and she refused inpatient treatment. In this situation, the patient's information would be disclosed to the appropriate professional to assure this patient was safe.
Identified areas in need of further skill development in one paragraph