Wasson_suicideinterventionplan

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1 Suicide Intervention Plan Suicide Intervention Plan Brittany Wasson School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University Author Note I have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Brittany Wasson Email: bnwasson@liberty.edu

2 Suicide Intervention Plan Presenting Problem The presenting problem in the case of Joanne, a 45-year-old-female, with history of depression and previous suicide attempts is that the client has shown up unexpectedly at the outpatient clinical counseling office to inform the counselor of her appreciation for her and the importance we have in her life. When questioning the client, she discloses that she has a gun in her vehicle. The counselor asks the client to stay and talk, but Joanne refuses and states that she “just wants to go for a drive.” The client’s history of depression, noncompliance to taking her prescribed medication and previous suicide attempts are concerning with the behavior she is presenting at the office. The immediate crisis is that she has a weapon in the car and has no desire to speak with the counselor and just wants to be alone to drive. Because of the client’s significant medical history and stressful life events, there is a possibility of reoccurring suicidal behavior. According to SAMHSA’s Quick Guide for Clinicians (2013), prior history of suicide attempts, co-occurring mental disorder such as depression, conflicted relationships, access to firearms, and stressful life circumstances are all risk factors that the client currently has. Precipitating Event Joanne has dealt with several issues in her life, leading up to this current situation. Joanne has had a prolonged history of depression. She is a 45-year-old divorced female who has suffered greatly from her depression. She has had multiple suicide attempts in the past, which she has attempted by overdosing and cutting her wrists. Her life consists of many stressors such as a demanding job with long hours, which is where she gets her gratification from as she has no hobbies or other things she enjoys. Joanne has been involved with complicated situations which can have an impact on her mental health. She divorced from her husband 10 years ago, who admitted that he was gay, she

3 Suicide Intervention Plan has not dated since. After her divorce, seven years ago, she began an affair with her sister’s husband. Although Joanne ended the affair due to feelings of guilt, her sister’s husband still tries to pursue her. Risk Factors  History of depression  Divorced  Prior suicidal ideation  Refusal of prescribed medication  Stressful work life (long hours)  Access to firearm  Lack of hobbies  Feelings of guilt  Affair  Lack of social interaction/lives alone Joanne is displaying many psychosocial factors that are associated with suicide risk according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2023). These factors are recent losses, in Joanne’s situation, the loss of her marriage. Long-term problems such as relationship difficulties, her divorce and the affair with her sister’s husband. Psychological states of acute or extreme distress, feeling of guilt due to the affair. These factors can lead to suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior. Resources and Protective Factors Joanne is a white, middle-class female and lives in an area with plenty of resources available to her. She has no issues with health coverage due to receiving it through her full-time

4 Suicide Intervention Plan job, she is currently utilizing this to seek treatment with her psychiatrist. She sees her psychiatrist monthly and is a stable resource for her to seek care. The client should be informed on helpful resources such as the suicide hotline and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The hotline will provide Joanne with someone she can speak with about the difficulties she may be facing, especially if she is unable to get in contact with her psychiatrist or counselor. NAMI provides many resources such as videos, articles and blogs to help all areas of difficulty. Studies have shown that crisis lines and online resources can reduce psychological distress and de-escalate individuals in a mental health crisis (Hoffberg, et al., 2020). While Joanne does not have any hobbies or social network, she has a 13-year-old daughter who relies on her for support and to be a positive and healthy role-model. Her daughter can provide her with the feeling of belonging and reason to keep moving forward. Joanne’s daughter is a major protective factor in her life that can give her strength and the will to survive her difficulties. Due to her lack of social network, Joanne spends a lot of time at work and can possibly confide in her coworkers during times of need. The community that Joanne lives in also provides resources for those who are struggling with depression and suicidal ideation. The local churches and mental health centers provide weekly, in-person meetings and social gatherings for those suffering from mental stress and suicide. These groups help those struggling with similar issues feel like they belong and have people to relate to and have shown to be a valuable asset for the mental health community (Lehmann, et al., 2022). Unfortunately, there may be challenges for Joanne when seeking out these resources or support. She has self-isolated and only wants to involve herself in work and has also stopped taking her medication. With her only motivation being work, it may be difficult to get her to

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