Suicide Prevention in a Treatment Setting

Reducing the suicide rate through treatment depends on the development of new knowledge and new technology with emphasis on early intervention and continuing lowintensity contact for many troubled suicidal people, rather than the current preoccupation with detecting and hospitalizing the “highest risk.” I anticipate that sophisticated interactive computer programs will be effective in improving screening and case finding, thus bringing many more suicidal persons into contact with primary care physicians and outpatient mental health services for the purpose of relieving psychological pain. Computer programs will be invaluable in improving training for both primary care providers and outpatient mental health workers. Improved communication networks will prove to be useful resources for maintaining continuity of care and consultation, which is important in long-term treatment. Other technical developments include simplifying and making explicit various treatment approaches, in both psychotherapy and drug therapy, so that research can proceed to clarify what type of treatment helps which type of suicidal patient.