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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
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