Citation

Tanney BL, Ramsay RF, Lang WA, Kinzel TA. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 95.

Affiliation

LivingWorks Education, 8 Pindari Road, 6015 City Beach, Australia. btanney@bigpond.net.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964026

Abstract

For three decades, we have designed and developed learning programs for caregivers with a core belief in frank, direct and open talk about suicide. With others, we instituted or incorporated care policies for those negatively impacted by these programs, though finding them little used. The development of a half-day, suicide alertness presentation for large-scale, community-wide dissemination has prompted a reappraisal of our responsibilities to participants distressed by such programs. In field trials with a number of trigger videos that critically disturb participants by confronting potential or perceived failures to help, some survivor's denial and avoidance of incomplete grief has been breached with resulting distress. Additionally, persons at risk have come forward. The possibility that society's taboo about directly addressing suicide originates in a maladaptive survivor response or an apprehension that direct talk poses a danger to persons at risk has challenged us to re-examine a number of ethical and legal issues. Our group's struggle to find ways to turn this disturbance and fear into opportunities for change and growth have involved public health, clinical psychopathology and help-providing frameworks. Suggestions for implementing large-scale, public awareness campaigns about suicide and its prevention without reinforcing stigma and taboo are offered.

Language: en