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Psychiatr Q (2007) 78:295307 DOI 10.1007/s11126-007-9047-x
ORIGINAL PAPER
Nora McAuliffe Lynda Perry
Published online: 19 September 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007
Abstract Developing and implementing consistent methodology for suicide assessment and intervention is challenging, particularly in a large community hospital which provides both inpatient care and a wide range of ambulatory and community based mental health programs. Patients, families, staff, and ongoing evaluation contributed to the development of an initiative to determine what is best practice and in effecting changes in clinical and organizational practices. The Suicide Assessment project resulted in improved clinical outcomes for patients and clients. Staff report that they feel more supported in probing for suicidal ideation and have the skills required to effectively intervene with the suicidal patient/client. This project advanced our knowledge of suicide assessment and risk management and provided new insights to assist professionals in the aftermath of a clients suicide when, as Valente describes, clinicians report feeling overwhelmed with feelings of guilt, self-blame, and responsibility (Valente S: Journal of Psychosocial Nursing 40:7 22-23, 2002).
Keywords Suicide Mental health patient safety Patient participation Clinical protocols Best practice project
Suicide: a word that means failure to a mental health professional and devastation to a family. Its identication and effective treatment are crucial in providing comprehensive service and the promotion of patient safety for people with serious and persistent mental illness. Mental illness is the most important factor that predisposes people to suicidal behaviour. According to the International Association for Suicide Prevention, in most Western countries, almost 90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder [2]. Bongars review of risk assessment and treatment procedures for suicidal patients estimates that 1015% of untreated or treatment resistant persons with major psychiatric disorders (i.e., affective disorder, substance use disorder and schizophrenia)
N. McAuliffe L. Perry (&)
Trilium Health Centre, 100 Queensway West, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5B 1B8 e-mail: [email protected]
N. McAuliffee-mail: [email protected]
Making it Safer: A Health Centres Strategy for Suicide Prevention
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will die by suicide [3]. Asnis states that bipolar patients are at the greatest risk of all, with 2025% dying by suicide [4]. According to the World Health Organization suicide is the single greatest cause of violent death around the globe...