Who are these guidelines intended for?
This guide is intended for social and health care professionals who meet self-destructive clients. A tab contains instructions for drawing up a safety plan.
Another tab contains instructions on responsible reporting of suicides for media professionals who are making news of suicide.
How to assess suicide risk?
A physician (medical doctor) assesses the need and urgency of both somatic and psychiatric care of the suicidal person. A suicidal adolescent is always included in the assessment of specialized medical care.
Enough time should be set aside for a meeting with a suicidal person to assess the risk of suicide. Interruption, ignoring, and flood of questions should be avoided.
The risk of suicide can be identified. The risk of suicide is high when a person
- talks about wanting to die
- is looking for a way to kill
- talks about feeling hopeless or insignificant
- talks about being deadlocked or experiencing unbearable pain
- talks about being a burden to others
- increases use of alcohol or medication
- behaves anxiously, agitatedly or restlessly
- sleeps too little or too much
- withdraws from the company of others or feels estranged
- displays rage or speaks of revenge
- swings from one extreme of emotion to another.
The greater the risk of suicide is, the more of the above factors are met.
After evaluation, it is not always necessary to refer a suicidal person to psychiatric care. However, the person should always be given instructions on where and how to communicate if suicidal thoughts reappear.
The risk of suicide alone is not a prerequisite condition for involuntary treatment. Persons under 18 years of age may be ordered to involuntary treatment on certain conditions in the case of a serious mental disorder, even if reality testing is not disordered.
