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Path: utzoo!utcs!lsuc!pesnta!hplabs!sdcrdcf!randvax!edhall
From: edhall@randvax.UUCP (Ed Hall)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: js
Message-ID: <2288@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-Feb-85 13:24:13 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2288
Posted: Tue Feb  5 13:24:13 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 8-Feb-85 05:15:03 EST
References: <1316@utah-gr.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 30

> At the risk of getting flames from both directions, I am finally
> going to insert my $0.02 on this subject.  If somebody is playing
> the "Yes but" game, you are not helping or supporting them by playing
> the game with them; you are at best allowing them to continue in
> their customary fashion.
>  . . . .
> uucp:  ...decvax!utah-cs!haas

I agree 100%!

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.

		-Ed