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 So.. I'm back to see the kid

 Author:  Topic:  Posted:
Oct 31, 2001
 Comments:
who likes knives again today - he missed an appointment last week so it was a bit more intense today. Actually got him talking about his early life and how it had affected him. Also got him talking about why he felt he has to use knives to feel powerful.So we had a good session and I felt I might be getting a handle on his psychological state. So his houseparent asked to speak to me in private when I had finished and he showed me a suicide letter he had found in the kid's room. God my heart lurched when I read it. I have read many suicide notes in my work - both before and after the fact- and this one was so serious and so real I had to alert everybody as to his state of mind and now I am away from work for a few days so have to leave it to others to deal with- such a control freak am I that I am worrying.- Ah well -
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eesh! (none / 0) (#1)
by nathan on Wed Oct 31st, 2001 at 03:10:56 PM PST
A lot more girls than boys attempt suicide, but a lot more boys than girls succeed, if I remember correctly. I'm given to understand that boys tend to be much more willing to blast themselves to bits, hack themselves up, hang themselves, etc, whereas girls do the pills and razor-cutting thing instead - no more pleasant, maybe, but far less lethal.

It must be a lot scarier dealing with someone who's serious about suicide than it would be dealing with the 'cry for help' types. The stakes are so much higher. What do you do? Is there anything you can do besides try your best to put him on an even keel by talking to him?

Nathan
--
Li'l Sis: Yo, that's a real grey area. Even by my lax standards.

They want to look good (none / 0) (#3)
by John Milton on Thu Nov 1st, 2001 at 08:39:34 AM PST
I remember a psychologist telling me that girls didn't use guns and stuff, because they were concerned about their looks even after they died. I thought she was joking at first, but she said it was true.


-John Milton

But of course. (none / 0) (#4)
by tkatchev on Thu Nov 1st, 2001 at 09:36:51 AM PST
This has nothing to do with vanity; the vast majority of teenage suicides happen because the suicider wants to make someone (an ex-personfriend, a parent, teacher, whatever) feel guilty. The reasoning is that realizing that you have caused a suicide will make you repent, cry in anguish, and change your ways forever.

Of course, that isn't really true. Mostly, suicides just elicit disgust.


--
Peace and much love...




I don't know... (none / 0) (#6)
by hauntedattics on Thu Nov 1st, 2001 at 01:16:58 PM PST
...if most suicides elicit disgust, but I've heard that if you try to off yourself and don't succeed, the medical personnel treating you at the local hospital are often aloof, if not downright hostile.



I'm ashamed to say (none / 0) (#11)
by psych wanderer on Sun Nov 25th, 2001 at 02:17:07 PM PST
that some members of my profession - the ordinary nurses - do treat people who attempt suicide in this way- it is shameful- they seem unable to seperate the behaviour from the person- which is a necessary method and point of view in my line of work- if i wasn't able to do that I wouldn't be able to talk to let alone treat rapists and sex offenders. Some mebers of the medical and so-called 'caring' professions need more training I think.
psych wanderer
http://notorious-scifi.com
"The thing I miss the most is my mind"

 
I wasn't suggesting vanity (none / 0) (#7)
by John Milton on Thu Nov 1st, 2001 at 07:09:55 PM PST
I believe she was trying to show how much more peer pressure girls felt about their bodies than boys. She also mentioned body image as another major reason for suicides.


-John Milton

 
yes you are right (none / 0) (#10)
by psych wanderer on Sun Nov 25th, 2001 at 02:12:37 PM PST
boys are more likely to succeed in their attempts than girls- usually because the boys use more violent methods- as you said- and the girls rely on poisoning which is much less successful. It also comes down to access- hence Farmers being the top profession for suicides at the moment- although dentists seem to overtake them sometimes (strange) There is not a lot I can do except to protect them from themselves by increasing their supervision and listening to them. I also do not believe in the 'attention getting' myth of suicides- if they are doing something that drastic for attention they must need the attention for some reason- even if it is only because they have a personality disorder. Anyway- nuff of this - I usually assess and treat criminals and suicide is just a small part of it :)
psych wanderer
http://notorious-scifi.com
"The thing I miss the most is my mind"

 
So... (none / 0) (#2)
by FreemoreJohnson on Wed Oct 31st, 2001 at 03:11:41 PM PST
How does the staff usually handle suicide notes? Do you watch this kid beyond what you would normally do


been away working (none / 0) (#9)
by psych wanderer on Sun Nov 25th, 2001 at 02:07:40 PM PST
so its been ages before I answered this- sorry The staff handled it well- I informed everybody involved in his care and it was sorted- increased supervision for a while - and he is a lot better now
psych wanderer
http://notorious-scifi.com
"The thing I miss the most is my mind"

 
Umm... (none / 0) (#5)
by Anonymous Reader on Thu Nov 1st, 2001 at 09:50:38 AM PST
Isn't it illegal to disclose private information about patients to uninvolved third parties, including but not limited to the Internet's most controversial website?


haven't been back for a while (none / 0) (#8)
by psych wanderer on Sun Nov 25th, 2001 at 02:05:29 PM PST
and if you can find anything in what i posted that wouyld identify anybody - then sue me - please do- i would enjoy it :) - make a change from talking to real people
psych wanderer
http://notorious-scifi.com
"The thing I miss the most is my mind"

 

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