Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ttidcc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!sdcsvax!dcdwest!ittvax!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!cmcl2!philabs!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (Jerry Hollombe) Newsgroups: net.suicide Subject: from net.singles Message-ID: <228@ttidcc.UUCP> Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 16:23:53 EST Article-I.D.: ttidcc.228 Posted: Fri Feb 8 16:23:53 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 11-Feb-85 05:01:48 EST Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA. Lines: 38 >From: edhall@randvax.UUCP (Ed Hall) >Newsgroups: net.singles >Subject: Re: js >Message-ID: <2288@randvax.UUCP> > >A few years back, the director of a suicide-prevention center once gave >explicit instructions to his staff that they were *not* to discuss >suicide with callers or clients. A potential suicide was encouraged to >discuss his/her feelings and problems, but if an attempt was made to >discuss suicide, the center staff was to tell them to change the subject >or the conversation was over. After two warnings the call or session >was terminated, with the understanding that it could resume only if a >promise was made not to discuss suicide. > >The strategy worked; in the years this policy was in force no client >ever successfully committed suicide. The message clients were given was >clear: *we're not going to play the ``suicide game''*. This broke the >obsessive cycle that often leads to suicide, and promoted more >functional ways of dealing with problems. >After this director left the center, the policy was abandoned; the new >director was afraid of lawsuits (which is understandable!). However, >the center had two suicides in his first year. This concept runs contrary to what I was taught when I worked at the SPC, but I'm willing to learn. Does anyone else have experience with this technique? With what results? Responses to the net, please. -- ============================================================================== The Polymath (Jerry Hollombe) Citicorp TTI If thy CRT offend thee, pluck 3100 Ocean Park Blvd. it out and cast it from thee. Santa Monica, California 90405 (213) 450-9111, ext. 2483 {vortex,philabs}!ttidca!ttidcc!hollombe