Suicide threats?!


Question:

Suicide threats?

How would a doctor handle a suicide threat? I know of a person (no, not me!!!) who is very depressed. He complains that he hates his life and on a few occasions has admitted to feeling suicidal. He said he would never hurt himself but that he is very depressed. If I alert the doctor, will he be committed to a psychiatric hospital or just given meds to cope with his depression?

Additional Details

1 month ago
He will refuse to go if he will be put in a hospital. This is why I need to know. He won't hurt himself but really needs to talk to a doctor and be given Prozac or something.


Answers:

Generally when a person expresses suicidal thoughts, the first reaction is not to send them off to the hospital, though I have known some primary medical docs who overreact, though not usually. A psychiatrist or counselor/therapist would assess the risk through a series of questions and only if the person is in imminent risk of ACTING on suicidal thoughts would they be hospitalized against their will. If your friend has thoughts, but has no intent to act on those thoughts and is willing to contract verbally not to act on them it is very unlikely that the professional he sees would recommend or try to orchestrate hospitalization. Even if you have an inexperienced GP who suggests it, the likelihood that a hospital would admit a person who denies intent to act is minimal. ER staff is trained to judge risk and would not be able to admit someone involuntarily if they weren't expressing imminent intent. Involuntary hospitalization only happens when a person is refusing all options suggested to them AND is insisting that they will act on the suicidal thoughts or that they cannot promise they won't.
If what you describe is accurate regarding your friend's thoughts without intent, there is little chance that hospitalization would even be suggested. He'll most likely get a prescription and a referral for counseling.




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