Citation

Ponton LE. Adolesc. Psychiatry 2002; 26: 145-159.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Analytic Press)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Suicidal adolescents have offered some of the greatest challenges in my professional life. Often, the emergency room or the clinic is where we encounter these young people for the first time. The first encounter is crucial, and we need to remember that in it we have an opportunity to work with these teens and help them change their lives. If they do not make contact with a psychiatrist when they are in an emergency room, there is only a 50-percent probability that they will follow up with ongoing psychiatric care. These patients have also presented me with some of my greatest challenges, because of the countertransference they evoke-including being fearful that I really haven't done enough for my adolescent patients and being afraid that my assessment method may not have been accurate. These patients also raise the issue of risk in our work; working with them is emotionally risky. However, establishing a successful partnership with these teenagers is invaluable. Indeed, it may be the only way by which these teenagers are going to improve their lives.

Language: en