Working With a Suicidal Client
Individuals diagnosed with depressive disorders and bipolar and related disorders are at risk for attempting and committing suicide. Therefore, it is important to accurately assess a client’s risk for suicidal and/or homicidal tendencies. To maintain a high level of care and plan appropriate treatment, you should always consider the risk of suicide/homicide in clients with depressive disorders and bipolar and related disorders. This is true even when a client does not routinely entertain thoughts of suicide/homicide or when such issues are not the specific focus of the counseling session.
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources.
- Focus on one of 3 cases (“A Successful Total Failure”, “Jennifer” or “Sped Up and Out of Control” ) in Chapter 7 of the text.
- Consider the client’s potential risk for suicide/homicide.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 a brief summary of one of 3 cases mentioned above. Construct and explain your diagnosis. Identify which disorders you would want to rule out. Explain what potential risks for suicide/homicide may be present with this client and how you would make this determination. Explain your recommendations for treatment, ongoing assessment, and follow-up with the client. Explain any challenges that might occur and how you might address them.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.