TitleWeb
Suicide: A concern for all health care providers
Professional; Facility; Ancillary
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We are pleased to introduce the third in a short series of articles in
Partners in Health
UpdateSM, "Suicide: A concern for all health care providers,"
that is designed to provide you
with information on suicide and the importance of your role in assessing your
patients
who may be at risk.
Part 3 ? After screening/assessing: How to assure safety of
the person who is at risk for suicide
When it is determined that a patient is at risk for suicide, there could be
many responses by the provider. One response
that is becoming the standard for both behavioral health providers (BHP) and
primary care physicians (PCP) is the
Suicide Care Management Plan.1 The plan is developed in
collaboration with the patient during an open discussion with the goal of
preventing the patient from acting on his or her suicidal impulses. This
response uses the healthy
connectedness of the relationship between the provider and patient to promote
coordination and collaboration that will
assure safety for the patient. However, some patients are reluctant to tell
providers that they may have suicidal ideas.
For some, they are embarrassed, and for others, they may fear being
hospitalized. In such cases, it is the responsibility
of the provider to develop the trusting relationship that encourages all
patients to talk openly about their concerns.2
For the PCP, an important aspect of the plan is to ensure that the patient
is seen that same day by a BHP. If a BHP is
not immediately available, contact Magellan Healthcare, Inc. by calling the
phone number on the back of the member's
ID card and choosing the "Crisis" option to find providers. Another option is
to refer the patient to a Crisis Center for a
behavioral health evaluation.
A list of local crisis centers will be available on our website and the
NaviNet® web portal in
the next few months.
For both the PCP and BHP, the Suicide Care Management Plan should also
include the self-management techniques
the patient will use to maintain his or her safety, which includes preventing
access to means for suicide and how the
patient will involve his or her support systems to enhance efforts to stay
safe. Another important aspect of the plan
includes follow-up with the patient to evaluate his or her status and make
modifications, if necessary.3
Most importantly, all health care providers should do the following for a
patient who is at risk for suicide:
- Discuss their concerns and Suicide Care Management Plan directly with the
patient.
- Make sure the plan is brief and clear and that the patient has a copy.
- Encourage involvement of support systems.
- Always act for the safety of the patient.3
1www.zerosuicide.com
2Jobes, D, et al. Ethical and competent care of suicidal patients:
Contemporary challenges, new developments, and considerations for clinical
practice (2008). Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol 39(4), Aug
2008, 405-413.
3Stanley, B., & Brown, G. (2012). Safety
Planning Intervention: A brief intervention to mitigate suicide risk. Cognitive
and Behavioral Practice, 19(2), 256?264. See more at
http://zerosuicide.sprc.org/resources/safety-planning-intervention-brief-interve
ntion-mitigatesuicide-
risk#sthash.I6pNi6k5.dpuf.
Magellan Healthcare, Inc., an independent company, manages mental health and
substance abuse benefits for most Independence members.
NaviNet is a registered trademark of NaviNet, Inc., an independent company.
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