Suicide prevention and psychology: A call to action.

Abstract

Suicide prevention literature is reviewed, especially as it relates to the profession of psychology. Prevention is organized and discussed in terms of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. The case is made that the profession of psychology should increase efforts and research to address the issue of suicide prevention, and specific suggestions are presented for ways in which this can be operationalized and accomplished.

Suicide Prevention: An Issue of Social Justice

“…Important points include but are not limited to obtaining a commitment from the client to therapy, seeing clients more often when the client is in crisis, allowing the client to express whatever negative feelings they are experiencing that may be contributing to their pain, following up if the client leaves therapy, and developing coping strategies such as a list of reasons for living. Firestone also emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship stating, Obviously, there are a wide variety of specific psychotherapeutic approaches that can be employed when working with a suicidal client and trying to prevent their suicide, depending on the specifics of the situation as well as the theoretical orientation of the therapist (Westefeld, 2019). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), developed by Linehan (1993), is an approach that has received widespread support (Linehan et al, 2006).…”

“…Shneidman provided an excellent summary of his work wherein he described what he saw as the key psychological variables that indicate a high risk for suicide: (a) the person being very upset or agitated-he referred to this as perturbation; (b) having a variety of fantasies about the experience of death as an escape process; (c) feeling shame/humiliation; (d) experiencing anhedonia; (e) not liking the self; (f) believing that death may offer a means to escape pain; (g) having lethal means available; (h) feeling depressed; (i) feeling hopeless; and (j) feeling helpless. Among these variables, shame, anhedonia, not liking the self, death as escape, lethal means availability, depression, helplessness, and hopelessness are all especially important variables at the forefront of suicidality currently (Bongar & Sullivan, 2013;Westefeld, 2000Westefeld, , 2019. Once again, the issue of lethal means emerges as an issue related to social justice.…”

“…. (p. 3) Obviously, there are a wide variety of specific psychotherapeutic approaches that can be employed when working with a suicidal client and trying to prevent their suicide, depending on the specifics of the situation as well as the theoretical orientation of the therapist (Westefeld, 2019). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), developed by Linehan (1993), is an approach that has received widespread support (Linehan et al, 2006).…”

An Evaluation of Case of Suicide Attempt Application to Emergency Services: A Prospective Study

“…Suicide is an important cause of death in the young worldwide and has emerged as an important public health problem [7]. Since the increasing number of suicides started to become an important issue for societies, September 10 was declared "World Suicide Prevention" day by the WHO to raise awareness about suicide [8]. This study, it was aimed to determine the psycho-sociodemographic profile of cases of attempted suicide, the causes of such attempts, as well as the etiological and risk factors for suicide.…”

Rapid e-mail response to first-contact e-mails increases consultation continuation rates for suicide prevention

“…A strategy to prevent suicide involves crisis intervention using media such as mobile phones and telephones to provide consultation activities and psychotherapy. [1][2][3] Internet usage rates have increased, and researchers have reported several methods of online crisis intervention. [4][5][6][7] One such technique is online gatekeeping, in which advertisements encourage individuals to use psychological consultation services when they search suicide-related words online, such as those that pertain to suicide methods.…”