In my law practice, I regularly encounter clients who are despondent and suicidal. I don't feel that I am well prepared for dealing with this issue. Without considering the ethical issues as to disclosure, what is the best course of action when dealing with a client who tells you that they're considering suicide? What resources are available as a guide to dealing with a suicidal client?
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posted by Dignan
on Apr 26, 2011 -
11 answers
My friend is deeply depressed and is trying to cut herself off from me and her other friends. How can I try to help her? Key questions: 1) Any suggestions on how to try to convince her that I genuinely want to stick around and be her friend and it's not just out of obligation, and/or other other ways to respond to her trying to push me away? 2) She's given up on hope of any treatment or improvement-- I think she might be borderline and that DBT could be a good fit for her regardless-- any suggestions of what I could send her about DBT and/or BPD (or anything else) that would have the best chance of getting through to her and giving her hope that things can get better?
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posted by EmilyClimbs
on Apr 8, 2011 -
15 answers
MorbidCuriosityFilter: I just saw
this on my friend's blog, which is an odd coincidence, because only the other day I was wondering: How many people have jumped or fallen off of the spiral walkway at the Guggenheim Museum in NYC?
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posted by Artifice_Eternity
on Feb 4, 2011 -
4 answers
If you've been a suffer of depression (especially of multiple instances) and dealt with constant chronic suicidal ideation how did you stop it?
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posted by kanata
on Jan 12, 2011 -
29 answers
Brother tried to kill himself, I called 911. He has been committed against his will. Need help figuring out how to support him despite his anger towards me.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 10, 2011 -
31 answers
In the United States in the 1870s and 1880s, what would have been the practical difference between a suicide being adjudged committed during a fit of temporary insanity, and having it be part, say, of a planned suicide pact?
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posted by LucretiusJones
on Dec 28, 2010 -
4 answers
I feel like a basket case. I'm 47 years old, and I've been in a 20-year same-sex relationship with another man. I felt like it would last forever. For several years, the relationship was sexless; we did all the normal couples things together - cooked, ate, washed dishes, stressed about the bills, laughed, cried, and took care of each other, but there wasn't much physical attraction any more. I've always been somewhat bisexual, and 2 or 3 years ago, I met a woman on match.com who was cute, seemed nice, and was accepting of my situation. We started dating (with the knowledge, and as far as he acted, the acceptance of my partner). At first, the two of them were sort of circling and sniffing, and I was afraid they would hate each other. As time passed, they became really good friends, and eventually they slept together, which was fine with me. (lots more blathering inside)
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posted by Death by Ugabooga
on Dec 21, 2010 -
64 answers
What to do if a member of a social networking website says they want to commit suicide?
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posted by chaz
on Dec 8, 2010 -
8 answers
Depression filter: At what point (if any) is it appropriate to share with specific family/friends incidents of depression / suicide ideation in my past?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 17, 2010 -
15 answers
An old friend of mine's 18 year old son just attempted to kill himself with a shotgun blast to the head.
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posted by mrhappy
on Nov 16, 2010 -
12 answers
I am researching “aggressive suicide” and would like to read about examples or studies on this topic. An example of an "aggressive suicide” would be an abuse survivor killing himself at the place where he was abused as a child.
posted by Francophone
on Nov 2, 2010 -
16 answers
My sister is teaching in Thailand and a colleague has just committed suicide. What, if anything, can I say or do to help?
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posted by lilyflower
on Oct 28, 2010 -
7 answers
Considering a somewhat voluntary psychiatric commitment for myself. Meeting with a psychiatrist this afternoon. What should I tell him?
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posted by 3491again
on Sep 7, 2010 -
21 answers
Looking for information on Temporary Guardianship in the case of multiple attempted suicides in Virginia.
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posted by Hwaet
on Sep 3, 2010 -
6 answers
Story ID: An aging, eminent composer decides it's time to end his life in an orderly manner. Probably from the 70's or 80's, and quite possibly in a collection of science fiction, although the only scifi element is that the story takes places in a time when the act isn't stigmatized.
All clues appreciated.
posted by spasm
on Aug 13, 2010 -
6 answers
Everyone has it harder than me. So I should be taking advantage of that, right?
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posted by defmute
on Aug 12, 2010 -
17 answers
My husband has convinced himself that his life is worthless and the world is better off without him. How can I help a man who refuses help?
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posted by anonymous
on May 31, 2010 -
31 answers
My father recently intimated without saying outright that he was thinking of ending his life.
He's 77, has been living with the after effects of strokes for about 15 years or more and has lost his ability to enjoy pretty much all of his passions.
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posted by anonymous
on May 14, 2010 -
33 answers
Dealing with a morbidly obese, bi-polar diabetic with chronic depression and suicidal thoughts?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 19, 2010 -
8 answers
One of my best friends just tried to kill herself. She has clinical depression, but she got help for it a year or two ago and I thought it was under control. Was that a delusion? Can people suffer from depression that can never be treated or controlled?
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posted by daelin
on Mar 16, 2010 -
17 answers
This American Life filter - relatively recently, (maybe a rebroadcast?) heard part of story re man who assisted his mother to end her life and how he felt - I've searched their archives for
mother and for
son; can't find it. Also searched AskMefi some, too many hits. Can anyone help?
posted by judybxxx
on Feb 24, 2010 -
5 answers
My coworker came to work and shot himself today. I was the only person to talk to him and was one of the first people to reach him after he did it. I'm planning on speaking with the grief counselors they're bringing in tomorrow. But I'm wondering if there are any resources I should know about for people in a situation like mine, specifically: witnesses of the suicide of a coworker or friend. In case the details are relevant: they are below.
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posted by nerdcore
on Sep 30, 2009 -
31 answers
My wife struggles with depression and, occasionally, suicidal ideation. But she doesn't communicate well (or nearly at all), so I have no real way of knowing when she's having a crisis rather than just another string of bad days / weeks. Is it ethical to monitor her internet activity without her knowledge so I have some idea of when I need to get serious about intervening?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 29, 2009 -
40 answers
I can't do therapy. There must be other people who can't do therapy. What do these people do, when they get together, to fix their problems? What DIY, collaborative options are on the table, and how do I find them?
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 11, 2009 -
32 answers
What happens when you buy a house with an unfortunate history (suicide) that has been disclosed, but no one bothers to tell you that the victim's blood is hidden under the new carpeting?
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posted by anonymous
on May 21, 2009 -
38 answers
What should I do about employment options? Sick & old but not sick OR old *Enough* 56 yr old woman who has signed a non-compete contract, in the same industry for 29 years and has been told I'm on probation for 90 days. Took short-term disability to rest and secure my position but thus far was denied, no money coming in. No retirement money, no other way to make money...more below
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posted by ~Sushma~
on Apr 27, 2009 -
16 answers
How can I help a suicide's widow? A dear friend committed suicide yesterday. My husband and I were notified by a mutual friend because the dead man thought of my husband as a friend (one of his few, I think). His partner (they never married) is staying with some closer friends for now. My question is: What can I/we do to help her?
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posted by dbmcd
on Apr 20, 2009 -
17 answers
Despite the passage of many decades, people still find and are fascinated by the famous Life Magazine photo of Evelyn McHale's strangely beautiful corpse after she leapt from the Empire State Building. I was just wondering if anyone has ever run across any more information about her other than the small bio that accompanied the photo. Are there other publicized photos of her before she died? Was her family ever contacted for comment? I don't mean to be ghoulish about it, I just find it to be iconic (Warhol even made it into artwork) and am surprised that no one ever looked into her life further.
posted by ktoad
on Mar 18, 2009 -
4 answers
I'm attempting to track down the title of a film I saw years ago on the IFC that ended with a botched suicide/murder attempt by a troubled adolescent girl...
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posted by afabulousbeing
on Mar 11, 2009 -
4 answers
Help me support a friend whose father attempted suicide. Added complication: my friend is half a world away from both his family and me.
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 4, 2009 -
5 answers
After many years of chronic depression I have finally achieved a reasonable facsimile of mental health. Except...
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 31, 2008 -
19 answers
I just got back to work after taking a week for the holidays, which is apparently a big no-no at my job because this is an insanely busy time for the office. My boyfriend and I just learned that his best friend committed suicide last night. I'd like to take off [more] work but I don't know how to tell my colleagues what's going on without sounding manipulative or lazy.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 29, 2008 -
26 answers
What percentage of suicides are due to alcohol? Not people who “drink themselves to death,” but people who are actually intoxicated when they kill themselves?
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posted by puckish
on Dec 11, 2008 -
9 answers
I broke up with a boy recently - broke his heart, to be precise. Badly, unfairly, selfishly. For reasons that, while I recognize as illogical to outside parties, are entirely unavoidable for me. I wouldn't change my decision. I won't reveal all details. But he attempted suicide over this, and I've been feeling nonstop nausea thinking about this situation. I can't stop blaming myself for driving someone to this degree of... brokenness.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 11, 2008 -
54 answers
How do I sort out whether my feelings are due to grief, or depression, and how do I proceed after the suicide of my brother-in-law?
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posted by alpha_betty
on Dec 11, 2008 -
8 answers
Help me design a multi-pronged approach to dealing with longstanding depression/grief/craziness.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 8, 2008 -
14 answers
I've been debating for two weeks now but
this question finally made my decision for me.
I finally got around to seeing
The Bridge. Bonus points for anyone who's seen it.
This is a little long...I am Very Much Not OK now.
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posted by geckoinpdx
on Dec 2, 2008 -
17 answers
I can't get out of the relationship I'm in with my girlfriend. Normally, it would just end. Parties would walk away and that would be that. But it's just not that easy with her...
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posted by runflats
on Sep 22, 2008 -
27 answers
It seems like most suicides I hear about are very intelligent people, but is there actually any established correlation between intelligence and suicide? Or has this been conclusively rejected as a risk factor? I haven't been able to find any mention of intelligence in various discussions of suicide risk factors.
posted by scottreynen
on Sep 17, 2008 -
13 answers
How to deal with long grief leading into depression? I lost my boyfriend last year in a very sudden, very horrifying suicide. (there are links in my post about it last year if you're a trainwreck gaper like i am...) I'm in weekly therapy with a great therapist. I see a great psychiatrist monthly. I am on two antidepressants that don't seem to be doing much for me but I can't really tell, because am I depressed or am I still grieving?
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posted by Soulbee
on Sep 17, 2008 -
27 answers
I'm looking for back story on a somewhat disturbing photograph which was circulating around the internet around 10-15 years ago. Trouble is, I no longer have a copy of the file, and can't find it.
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posted by sergeant sandwich
on Aug 26, 2008 -
8 answers
My wife's battled depression for a while, and though she rallied and had a decent few months, she plunged back into the depths of it for the few weeks around her recent birthday (which seems to happen every year, but this year was the worst yet). She had us cancel any birthday plans, cake, etc -- didn't even want anybody to say "happy birthday". After asking a few times and receiving this same answer, I went along with it; it was
her birthday, after all. Her mood has lifted since then, but she still doesn't want her presents -- says to return everything, and shuts down when I bring up the subject. Fine, I can return them, except for one, a custom order meant as a present from our four-year-old (call her "Olivia"): a set of coasters printed with Olivia's scanned artwork. What do I do with them?
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posted by UtterlyDrained
on Aug 11, 2008 -
65 answers
As a way to comfort myself when I am worried, nervous, anxious, or sleepless, I plan my own suicide.
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posted by Wroksie
on Aug 11, 2008 -
23 answers
