tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post116068611783281746..comments2024-03-18T03:28:36.581-04:00Comments on Shrink Rap: Let's Talk About SuicideUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1162400258383279202006-11-01T11:57:00.000-05:002006-11-01T11:57:00.000-05:00GW case update: Lawsuit settledhttp://www.washingt...GW case update: Lawsuit settled<BR/>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103101193.html<BR/>and<BR/>http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/11/01/college.depression.ap/index.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1161633497750579202006-10-23T15:58:00.000-04:002006-10-23T15:58:00.000-04:00A very controversial subject indeed!I had a psycho...A very controversial subject indeed!<BR/><BR/>I had a psychotic break when I was an undergrad--in fact I was still a minor when it began--and even after two suicide attempts, my college really went out of its way to support my staying in school. I went to a small, high-powered school where students in distress are nothing new.<BR/><BR/>After my second attempt, I came up with a plan that involved a 6-week leave for day treatment, taking medical withdrawal on a lab course, and keeping up with my work in my other three classes. The freshman dean and my professors were all for it. The dean of students was also in support of the weekend I took at a respite house as a sophomore--as long as I checked in afterward to say I was still alive.<BR/><BR/>I know I was a huge risk to the school (not to mention to myself!), but in the end it was a good thing I wasn't forced to take leave or kicked out. Even though I was drugged to the gills for the rest of school, I was able to graduate with my friends... and I earned departmental honors, received magna cum laude, and just barely missed Phi Beta Kappa.<BR/><BR/>What my college didn't handle so well was (non-suicidal) self-harm. I had to meet with the dean weekly about this for a while, until I finally got it across to him that I wasn't a suicide or medical risk, and that he had my permission to talk to my psychiatrist any time. Turned out, he was just trying to assuage his own anxiety.<BR/><BR/>I had a rough time at one point in grad school also, and then I <I>was</I> afraid I'd be kicked out: I was going to school for clinical psychology, and who wants a crazy therapist? But my professors assured me I wouldn't be kicked out, that I should take care of myself. <BR/><BR/>While a graduate trainee in the counseling center, I heard all sorts of opinions about how to manage suicidal students. The one thing we all <I>did</I> agree on was that we would only release information to deans, departments, etc. about session attendance. (Of course, the deans, departments, etc. always wanted more!) <BR/><BR/>I ended up giving a talk to the staff about my own perspective on helping suicidal students. It was pretty powerful for all parties involved. I now give workshops on self-harm, and it amazes me how often people say, "whether they're suicidal or not, if you can't trust someone not to hurt themselves, they ought to be kicked out."<BR/><BR/>Don't get me started on no-harm contracts.Gerbilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05908487212760713496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1160948058605981442006-10-15T17:34:00.000-04:002006-10-15T17:34:00.000-04:00My issue is not with the policies of universities....My issue is not with the policies of universities. My issue is with those universities that use crappy informed consents. It's always pretty obvious (at least from the ones that I have seen) that if a student threatens suicide that it can be reported. <BR/><BR/>However, if a university has the policy to alert the administration for suicidal thoughts then let the students know in advance before they open their mouths. Put it in print and have the student sign it. That would allow students to make the decision whether or not seeking mental health care at a student health center is worth it. As long as students are notified in advance, I have no problem with whatever policy the university wants to have. My thoughts are that they can do whatever they want just so long as they let me know in advance...so I can be sure and go somewhere else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1160753626155546302006-10-13T11:33:00.000-04:002006-10-13T11:33:00.000-04:00Regarding the gender issues, in reality it is impo...Regarding the gender issues, in reality it is important to target both men and women when talking suicide prevention. We could say this is even more important because some of these universities are expelling students for just suicidal thought alone, whereas others are waiting for an attempt. Men are 4 times more likely to complete suicide than women, but women are 3 times more likely to attempt. Based on those statistics, it's obvious that both need intervention - and not just one gender over the other. The last references I saw on those statistics were from 1999 - 2001:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.healthyplace.com/COMMUNITIES/depression/related/suicide_8.asp" REL="nofollow">HealthyPlace.com Suicide Statistics</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/harmsway.cfm" REL="nofollow">NIMH: Suicide in America</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/suicideprevention/suifact.cfm" REL="nofollow">NIMH: 2001 Suicide Facts and Statistics</A>NeoNurseChichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16120931307124798416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1160751305503860472006-10-13T10:55:00.000-04:002006-10-13T10:55:00.000-04:00Sarebear: Yes, our organizations have ethical guid...Sarebear: Yes, our organizations have ethical guidelines which prescribe maintaining confidentiality, except under conditions similar to those mentioned by Dinah.<BR/><BR/>I googled psych.org but could only find the "retired" position statements, meaning there are newer versions. Here are two of the older position statements which relate to this issue:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/196605.pdf" REL="nofollow">Confidentiality with reference to psychiatric patients [pdf]</A><BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/196907.pdf" REL="nofollow">Problems in confidentiality [pdf]</A><BR/><BR/>I haven't read through these, so feel free to summarize. Also, keep in mind there are more up-to-date documents, but I don't have time to keep looking right now.Steve & Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16543746132388754693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1160731749448213212006-10-13T05:29:00.000-04:002006-10-13T05:29:00.000-04:00I KNOW i can't come from the same perspective you ...I KNOW i can't come from the same perspective you are, JW, but people are PEOPLE, and in some things, I don't think the gender thing makes as huge of an impact. I don't think the fact that college age men are alot more likely to have suicidal thinking or more, than women in their peer group, I don't think the fact that a suicide outreach program on-campus would be serving more men than women, would make a university that was considering such a program, NOT do it.<BR/><BR/>They're all people, and the point of preventing suicide is to save a LIFE. not to save a man, specifically, or a woman, specifically. To save the PERSON, specifically, and all the potential therein.<BR/><BR/>That's just MHO; that there'd be other factors much more likely to interfere w/implementation of a suicide outreach program, than the politics of gender.<BR/><BR/>Then again, I could be naive.Sarebearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208596053319110470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1160728233218584652006-10-13T04:30:00.000-04:002006-10-13T04:30:00.000-04:00Further, to help counter stigma, and fearfulness o...Further, to help counter stigma, and fearfulness of patients in general to open up to mental health professionals, it'd be nice to HEAR one of the professionals' associations speak out on the subject, and condemn the actions of the university, and restate what their recommended ethical guidelines are for patient/therapist confidentiality.Sarebearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208596053319110470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1160728110068482422006-10-13T04:28:00.000-04:002006-10-13T04:28:00.000-04:00I think there is too much stigma about people who ...I think there is too much stigma about people who have suicidal thoughts, ideation, and/or intent.<BR/><BR/>I think if people would not judge so much, if people would LISTEN . . . <BR/><BR/>This sort of mess w/the universities just makes it worse, not only for other students at any university, but for fear of judgement by anyone who is experiencing thoughts along these lines. These clumsily-handled issues, especially when publicized, contribute to societal stigma against people having difficulties with these things, as well as the mentally ill in general.<BR/><BR/>UGH.<BR/><BR/>Not that I think discussion of it increases stigma, just the hoser universities taking the actions they did. Hell, the mental health professionals informing the institutions, although perhaps it was in their contract . . . <BR/><BR/>Don't professional organizations for ologists, iatrists, and other mental health professionals have ethics standards that would object to breaking confidentiality for reasons rather outside what you state in your post? I know, like the Pirate Code, they are guideliens and not law, but what do professional associations of mental health professionals have to say on this subject?Sarebearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09208596053319110470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26666124.post-1160716343842259092006-10-13T01:12:00.000-04:002006-10-13T01:12:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.NeoNurseChichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16120931307124798416noreply@blogger.com