Citation

Rogers JR, Soyka KM. J. Contemp. Psychother. 2004; 34(1): 7-22.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1023/B:JOCP.0000010910.74165.3a

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The empirical data on the relationship between suicide and suicide attempts are interpreted as suggesting that the contemporary assessment and intervention approaches to suicidal individuals are, by and large, ineffective. In support of our argument, we focus on the crisis intervention model as one example and suggest that the crisis intervention approach to responding to suicidal individuals is at best, ineffective and, at worst, can be viewed as exacerbating suicidal risk through its distancing, marginalizing, and stigmatizing effects. Additionally, we hypothesize that the mechanics of the crisis intervention model contribute to the societal message that a meaning and contextual-based discussion of suicidality is taboo and that this message tends to continue into more long-term psychotherapeutic approaches. Along these lines, we present an alternative to the crisis intervention model grounded in an existential- constructivist theory of suicidal behavior and the principles of therapeutic and feminist assessment philosophies as an heuristic intended to stimulate the development of new and innovative approaches to working with suicidal individuals.

Language: en

Keywords

theory; human; suicide; Suicide; professional practice; Suicide attempts; psychotherapy; suicide attempt; interview; suicidal behavior; society; hospital; philosophy; risk factor; Crisis intervention; review; risk; history; expectation; patient care; patient attitude; disease exacerbation; model; perception; anticipation; distance perception; Feminist assessment; Therapeutic assessment