"I am partial to suicide hotlines, not least because that is where I started a path that eventually led me to becoming a therapist. I was for some time a volunteer at a suicide hotline, working several-hour shifts and occasionally overnight. I had the opportunity to train in speaking with people who are suicidal, and to work alongside some remarkably dedicated people."
"There is something in the idea of suicide that seems to challenge the very possibility of honest and open discussion. Even experienced therapists who are accustomed to discussing a variety of "taboo" topics-hatred of people one is supposed to love, unusual sexual habits, and the various pecadillos that are a part of human life-sometimes hesitate on the topic of suicide. This is perhaps because it is believed that the very discussion of suicide will make the possibility salient and so raise suicide risk-though, to my knowledge, there is no empirical evidence to support that belief."
Open, sensitive conversation about suicidal thoughts does not appear to increase suicidal behavior but requires careful training and empathy. Suicide hotlines provide immediate, short-term support and can alleviate acute distress, though their long-term effect on suicide rates is uncertain. Key psychological drivers include thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and an acquired ability to enact lethal self-harm. Effective prevention combines compassionate listening and validation with practical measures that reduce impulsive opportunities to act, such as restricting access to means and building social connectedness and sustained clinical care. Brief crisis interventions can stabilize individuals, but sustained support and therapy are necessary to address underlying pain and risk factors.
Read at Psychology Today
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