Suicide Prevention Consultation - Research Paper Example

? Suicide Prevention Consultation General framework for consultation Over the years, many young adults have attempted suicide, which results from different causes like drug addiction. However, the victims may own up to their attempts and seek counseling. It is therefore important to have consultation guidelines or framework to help suicide victims (Anderson, 2007). In any country, the government should work closely with counseling professionals to ensure that suicide victims receive help. Any strategy developed by the counselors integrates with other suicide prevention strategies to have a collective responsibility (Rachmnand et al., 2011). It also makes victims who seeking advice have a positive perception about the strategy. Firstly, meetings and forums should be held within the organization and interested people invited. Their participation enables this consultation process to receive detailed views from participants who are committed to reduce suicide rates. In developing the framework, an input form, for the public, is filled by organizations and the people (Tartaro et al., 2010). The frame identifies main issues that relate to suicide. Counselors should design friendly consultation forms that are easy to understand by the suicide victims (Tartaro et al., 2010). Important information like drug abuse, anger management among others should be included in the form. To aid them in this task, counselors must extensively research on their fields of study. Consultation programs should cut across all the dynamics like time, population (age and gender), cultural background and personal attributes (Rachmnand et al., 2011). A suicide survivor is a very delicate person whose needs are determined by stakeholders. Once a victim has come for help, the counselor should design a plan of interviewing and helping the victim. The worker or the counselor should first evaluate the victim (Anderson, 2007). The victim is given time to fill the form or a family member may be asked for assistance. This form gives such details as to previous suicide attempts, the level of symptoms among others. The LIFE (2007) model This model bases its argument that suicide prevention lies with the individuals, professionals (of health sector) and the community services (Anderson, 2007). It further recommends that intervention should be collective, with all stakeholders involved. This model introduced the concept of ‘safety nets’ (Rachmnand et al., 2011). These enable counselors to support victims who move from treatment points and absorbed back by the community. Transition into the society is through community services to foster recovery, handover and co-operation by on the stakeholders. This model is community based. The society is obliged to accept these victims without prejudice. They may be dangerous group but helping them calls for the society’s full support (Tartaro et al., 2010). Features of LIFE 2007 model The center of focus of this model includes individuals’ health, responses to certain life events and well-being (Tartaro et al., 2010). It recognizes people have different response and manner in which they cope with the situations. On the other hand, the vulnerability also differs among the individuals and their resilience varies. For instance, clients may respond differently towards adverse events and it never follows a linear path. Individuals can drastically move from good health to adverse reactions. The modest model uses everyday language that makes it available to a large audience (Rachmnand et al., 2011). This feature makes it more acceptable to many institutions. In addition, it uses community-based feature known as ‘safety nets’ that aids people in movement from treatment to treatment or when health care centers discharge them. Providing support at the discharge level shows that people at high risk at this critical stage since they have to adapt to the community that they wanted to live when they end their lives. The stages or domain of the 2007 model (intervention stages) This model recommends universal intervention form first priority. It engages the whole population in ensuring that access to suicide materials are reduced (Anderson, 2007). The media also form part of this population and they should reduce their inappropriate suicide coverage. Schools, families and communities become supportive and strong enough to face the suicide victims. Selective intervention works with identified groups who may be at risk of suicide. It strives to ensure resilience, good environment and capacity thereby promoting self-help and full support (Rachmnand et al., 2011). Counselors or workers work closely with families to make sure that no other person becomes a victim. Indicated interventions are applicable to target individuals who show early suicide signs or risks. Those concerned helps suicide victims to manage the symptoms or situation. Education is also important at this stage by professionals, thereby increasing awareness among the locals. Alertness makes the community fast to act if persons develop such symptoms. Symptom identification involves knowing the potential symptoms and being able to provide help (Tartaro et al., 2010). Having this knowledge makes the public able to salvage the suicide cases. Those concerned must be able to find and access support and early care if treatment or specialized care. Other important intervention stages include standard treatment, long-term support, treatment, ongoing support, and care (Rachmnand et al., 2011). Standard treatment is for special cases that are attended to by professionals who also help the victims recover. Long-term support on the other hand prepares the victims to face the future and reduces adverse effects his or her health. Health officials ensure protective factors that improve families and communities against suicide elements. Ongoing care involves health professionals, community, workplaces, family, friends, and their efforts to help people adapt to an environment of self-help (Anderson, 2007). This model identifies some areas that are of support and care for the suicide victims (Rachmnand et al., 2011). The first step is assisting the victims in helping themselves and providing an able environment to accomplish self-help. The second area is recognition of early signs and devising early intervention to aid people in resolving issues. This is forecasting and anticipating the situation. It makes those intervening from experiencing urgency situations. Thirdly, stakeholders should act to increase understanding of the suicide problem and its prevention. Relevant authorities must build to meet the needs of those who might be suicidal. This is a fourth step is known as targeted care. The fifth step is providing access to special care and local support for the chronically suicidal. Finally yet importantly, the professionals have to provide an environment that allows resilience for families, individuals and communities thereby improving their health (Anderson, 2007). An example of life 2007 model is on the table 1 below; Table 1 Universal intervention Selective intervention Indicated intervention Symptom identification Early treatment Standard treatment Long-term treatment and support Ongoing care and support Target groups Outcomes Who is involved Conclusion Suicide behavior has been determined as a public health menace that strongly links to depression. Age is a significant factor since those who are mature are prone to the problem. Before starting seeking embarking on suicide rescue efforts, all stakeholders involved must collaborate. This partnership brings about integration that strives to help suicide victims. A detailed consultation framework or strategy developed by the counselors to help them attend to these people. Many models have been developed and made available to the relevant authorities for use. The model that has stood the test of time is a 2007 life model. It provides the guidelines that are useful on the intervention and levels of intervention. The most stressed point is the community support that is dynamic to ensure that suicide victims receive good care. References Anderson, K. D. (2007). School-based suicide prevention: role, function, and level of involvement of school psychologists. Michigan: ProQuest. Rachmnand, R., Acosta, J., & Burns, R.M. (2011). The War Within: Preventing Suicide in the U.S Military. Virginia: Rand Corporation. Tartaro, K, Tartaro, C., & Lester, D. (2010). Suicide and Self-harm in Prisons and Jails. Maryland: Lexington books. Read More