Competent social workers are knowledgeable about indicators of potential suicidal behavior.
Week 11: Suicide
Suicide can occur during almost any time of life. However, it might be considered especially critical in the years of adolescence and youth.
—Zaslow, Kirst-Ashman and Hessenauer (2019, p. 348)
Competent social workers are knowledgeable about indicators of potential suicidal behavior. Understanding how to recognize and respond to someone who is contemplating ending his or her life is an important aspect of competent social work practice. No one can prevent another from taking his or her own life, but when there is an understanding about what precipitates this desire, the chances for a successful intervention can be greatly improved. This week consider the reasons, indicators, and interventions surrounding the potential act of suicide.
References
Zastrow, C. H., Kirst-Ashman, K. K., & Hessenauer, S. L. (2019). Understanding human behavior and the social environment (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Analyze indicators of suicidal behavior present in a case study
Recommend responses to indicators of suicidal behavior
Learning Resources
Required Readings
Singer, J. B., & Slovak, K. (2011). School social workers’ experiences with youth suicidal behavior: An exploratory study. Children & Schools, 33(4), 215–228.
Miers, D, Abbott, D Springer, Paul (2012) A phenomenological study of family needs following the suicide of a teenager. Death Studies, 36(2), 118-133.
Miranda-Mendizábal, A., Castellví, P., Parés-Badell, O., Almenara, J., Alonso, l., Blasco, M. J., & … Alonso, J. (2017). Sexual orientation and suicidal behaviour in adolescents and young adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 211(2), 77–87. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.196345
Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., Brocksen S. (Eds.). (2014). Sessions: Case histories. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].
The Parker Family
Discussion: Indicators of Suicide
Increased stress levels, feeling hopeless and alone, being bullied, or experiencing repeated physical or sexual abuse could all be reasons why some adolescents consider suicide. Adolescent suicide has far-reaching consequences on families, friends, communities, and schools. For this Discussion, use the Parker Family case study to consider the indicators of suicide. While Stephanie is now an adult talking about her experience as a youth, image how you would have responded to her at the time she tried to kill herself in adolescence. Also think about how you might react to students in this situation if you were a social worker in a school.
By Day 3
Post your answer to the following:
After learning about the character in the Parker Family case study, imagine that you were the school social worker at the time Stephanie attempted suicide as a teenager. Which indicators would you have looked for and why.
How would you have responded to each of those indicators?
What kinds of questions would you have asked and why?
Please use the Learning Resources to support your answer.
By Day 5
Choose a colleague’s post and widen the discussion by offering two additional responses to noted indicators. Please use the Learning Resources to support your answer.
Answer preview to competent social workers are knowledgeable about indicators of potential suicidal behavior.
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