NCJ Number
58107
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
CHARACTERISTICS OF SUICIDAL INDIVIDUALS, THE PROCESS OF INTERVENTION, AND PRECAUTIONS FOR ASSURING POLICE OFFICER SAFETY IN RESPONDING TO THE SCENE OF A SUICIDE ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
SUICIDE IS THE 10TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES AND CUTS ACROSS ALL AGE, SEX, RACE, AND SOCIAL LEVELS. IN THE CASE OF TEENAGERS BETWEEN 15 AND 19 YEARS OLD, SUICIDE IS THE 5TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. IT IS ALSO AMONG THE THREE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. SUICIDAL TENDENCIES MAY DEVELOP WHEN PERSONS VIEW THEIR LIVES AS HOPELESS, FILLED WITH INSOLVABLE PROBLEMS, OR FILLED WITH UNBEARABLE SUFFERING. APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ATTEMPT SUICIDE GIVE SOME INDICATION OF THEIR INTENT IN ADVANCE OF THE ACT. POLICE OFFICERS MUST BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN NORMAL PERIODS OF DEJECTION AND SERIOUS FEELINGS OF DEPRESSION. VERBAL CLUES ARE PERHAPS THE MOST COMMONLY ENCOUNTERED INDICATORS OF POTENTIAL SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR. EVEN MORE REVEALING THAN VERBAL CLUES ARE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN AN INDIVIDUAL'S DAILY HABITS AND ROUTINES THAT DEMONSTRATE EMOTIONAL DETERIORATON IS TAKING PLACE. BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS OF A SUICIDAL PERSON INCLUDE HEAVY DRINKING, WEIGHT LOSS, FATIGUE, INABILITY TO MAKE CHOICES, ABSENCE OF INTERESTS, AND SEVERE DEPRESSION. SOME PERSONS USE THREATS OF SUICIDE TO INFLUENCE OTHERS, SOME PERSONS ARE SIMPLY INDIFFERENT DUE TO EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS, AND OTHER PERSONS ARE SCHIZOPHRENIC. SCHIZOPHRENICS ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT TO HANDLE BY POLICE OFFICERS. THE INTERVENTION PROCESS REQUIRES A NONJUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE TOWARD VICTIMS AS WELL AS FIRM AND SUPPORTIVE DIRECTIONS BY POLICE OFFICERS. ANOTHER TECHNIQUE IS TO HAVE SOMEONE IMPORTANT IN THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL BROUGHT TO THE SCENE OF THE SUICIDE ATTEMPT. FOUR SEQUENTIAL STEPS IN ASSISTING SUICIDAL PERSONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP, MAINTAIN CONTACT, AND OBTAIN INFORMATION; (2) IDENTIFY AND FOCUS ON CENTRAL PROBLEMS; (3) EVALUATE THE COMMITMENT UNDERLYING THE THREAT; AND (4) ASSESS THE INDIVIDUAL'S RESOURCES AND MOBILIZE OUTSIDE RESOURCES. POLICE OFFICERS MUST AVOID PLACING THEMSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE THEIR LIFE AND SAFETY DEPEND ON THE SUICIDAL INDIVIDUAL. THEY SHOULD ALSO AVOID ANY PREDICAMENT WHERE AVENUES OF ESCAPE ARE BLOCKED, AND THEY SHOULD SEPARATE THE SUICIDAL INDIVIDUAL FROM THE WEAPON. A DISCUSSION GUIDE IS PROVIDED. (DEP)