Problem:
Athena is a 22-year-old female of Greek descent who lives with her mother, with whom she is quite enmeshed. Athena has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression. Athena currently has visual and auditory hallucinations, including hallucinations commanding her to attempt suicide. Treatment staff learned that she was sexually and physically abused by her father (who himself has schizophrenia) when she was growing up. Athena's mother speaks fondly of Athena's father, and it's not clear whether the mother believes that Athena was abused or not. Athena has not seen or spoken to her father in 5 years.
Athena is socially awkward and disconnected due to her acute psychiatric symptoms. She has no friends due to having been rejected as "odd" by people in her high school. Even though she is an adult, her mother does everything for her, with no expectation that Athena help around the house or do chores. This has led to some conflict in the home, since Athena does not want to be treated as "a baby" and says she is perfectly capable of helping out. However, her mother gets upset when Athena tries to do a task that she has been told not to do. With her mother, Athena has interactions with the Greek community in the city, including attending church regularly. The mother speaks little English, and relies upon Athena to help her interact with the English-speaking community. Athena reports that people in the community know her and are friendly when she goes into their shops, but she doesn't interact with them outside of that environment. She told the treatment staff that she would like them to help her connect with a mentor because she doesn't really have anyone in her life who she can turn to for advice.
Athena's hallucinations are always telling her to attempt suicide; however, she never actually attempted suicide until she was rejected by a young man that she liked about 2 months ago. After her suicide attempt, Athena was briefly hospitalized and began receiving services at an intensive case management program. She reports that she attempted suicide because she was so depressed that she could not take it anymore. Treatment staff recognize that this behavior is a coping mechanism developed after Athena's abuse, which has been impacting how she connects with people, especially when it comes to romantic relationships.
Athena has expressed an interest in music history and the treatment staff has helped her enroll in a community college class, which they hoped would help her find common ground and begin to connect with her peers; however, she tended to walk out of class at odd times and wander the streets. When asked about this behavior, Athena reported that she just cannot sit still in the class. At the ICM program, treatment staff felt that treatment was proceeding well. Athena was medication compliant and attending sessions regularly; however, 2 days ago Athena set up another meeting with the young man, which also went badly, resulting in another suicide attempt this morning, and Athena was re-hospitalized. Hospital and treatment staff recommended that she be treated at a residential placement, but Athena and her family declined; instead, she preferred to have very high frequency of meetings at the ICM program after inpatient discharge. Treatment staff hopes that she will reconsider and accept placement at a higher level of care. Need Assignment Help?
Use the chart below
Risk Behaviors
0. No evidence of need. No action needed
1. Significant history or possible need that is not interfering with functioning. Watchful waiting/prevention/additional assessment
2. Need interferes with functioning. Action/intervention required
3. Need is dangerous or disabling. Immediate action/intensive action required
Use this chart above to rate / grade below
1. Suicide Risk
2. Danger to Self or Others
3. Self-Injurious Behavior
4. Other Self-Harm
5. Exploitation
6. Gambling
7. Sexual Aggression
8. Criminal Behavior