Evaluation of the Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk Training

Changes in attitudes, confidence, and practice behaviors were assessed among 452 clinicians who completed the training, Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk, and who work with clients at risk for suicide. Data were collected at three time points. Scores on measures of attitudes toward suicide prevention and confidence to work with clients at risk for suicide improved over time. Clinical practice behaviors improved for assessing and formulating suicide risk, developing suicide prevention treatment plans, and responding to vignettes. Results suggest training can improve clinicians’ attitudes toward suicide, confidence to work with clients at risk for suicide, and, most importantly, clinical practice skills.     

Inpatient Treatment Planning

The inpatient treatment plan is the essential guide to coordinate the nursing and adjunctive therapeutic staff's approach to the multiple needs of hospitalized patients. The written plan, formulated within days of admission, articulates to the community of caregivers the link between the patient's presenting problems and those services available to alleviate them. As illustrated in the case of Steve, the complexities of patients and of care-giving systems require careful thought in arriving at a workable approach.     

The Epidemiology of Life-Threatening Events*

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the epidemiology and impact (both short- and long-term) of acute life-threatening experiences among a youthful population. Interviews were conducted with 649 individuals between the ages of 13 and 30. Thirty-four percent of these respondents reported a total of 290 analyzable, subjectively perceived death confrontation experiences. An estimate of over 2 1/2 million living ex-suicide attempters, under age 30, was derived, and suicide was found to be a significantly unique form of death confrontation. In contrast to earlier work, panic and fear were found significantly to describe the majority of impacts reported, while avoidance appears to be the modal long-term effect. Differential impacts and effects are reported by mode of event, and results are discussed in relation to their impact for crisis counseling.