Conversations Around Suicide (Core Competencies: 1.2; 1.4; 1.6; 2.5; 2.6; 2.7; 3.3; 3.5; 3.7; 4.4; 4.5; 4.6; 4.11; 4.12; 4.14) Suicide is a difficult and emotional topic. Most people have a deeply personal connection to the topic of suicide and may find it challenging to stay present and supportive of a peer who may be perceived as being at risk for suicide. It is important that certified peer specialists are aware of their own feelings and perspectives surrounding suicide and understand how to navigate them before beginning work. When a peer expresses thoughts or feelings about suicide, a certified peer specialist must understand that this expression does not inherently mean the peer is experiencing a crisis. Even when supporting a peer through an emotionally intense experience it is critical that certified peer specialists allow the peer to define crisis in their own terms. Many people live with ongoing, active, or recurrent thoughts of suicide and have found ways to navigate and live alongside the experience with or without treatment, Many trainings that prepare people to offer support to those considering suicide offer lists of suicide warnings signs. Three facts should be considered in the context of these types of warning sign lists: most people at some point in their life have shown a warning sign because these signs are highly prevalent in the population; the presence of warning signs does not necessarily imply a person is at-risk for suicide; and the more warning signs that a person presents does suggest more risk for suicide. When a certified peer specialist notices or observes what they perceive to be warning signs or risk for suicide they must understand these within the context of the person’s experience and explore their meaning. If, in your exploration with the peer, you and the peer determine there is a crisis, specifically if it does entail intended serious harm to self or others or abuse from caregivers, the certified peer specialist should remind the peer of the protocols set forth by their agency. This should not be the first time this information has been shared with the peer. It is important for the certified peer medication, and other services. Suicide warning signs specialist to seek supervision in reporting to the appropriate staff member when there is an exception to confidentiality. The certified peer specialist could invite the peer to meet with the appropriate staff member.
192
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online