ABSTRACT
All mental health professionals grapple with clients who have suicidal ideation or who have attempted suicide. Even with the best treatment, it is impossible to control the actions of one’s clients. Chemtob, Hamada, Bauer, Torigoe, & Kinney (1988a) found that psychologists face more than a 20% chance of losing a client to suicide, and psychiatrists face about a 50% chance of losing a patient to suicide (Chemtob, Hamada, Bauer, Torigoe, & Kinney, 1988b). erapists are lež to struggle with this complex issue, safeguarding client condentiality while keeping clients safe, and sometimes therapists are lež feeling stranded in this tenuous position. In this chapter, suicide risk factors, assessment and intervention, legal issues, and standard of care are discussed to aid therapists in keeping the client’s best interests in mind while keeping their own peace of mind.
