The Suicidal Crisis: Clinical Guide to the Assessment of Imminent Suicide Risk

The Suicidal Crisis, Clinical Guide to the Assessment of Imminent Suicide Risk, is the first book written specifically to help clinicians evaluate the risk of imminent suicidal behavior. It presents methods for a systematic and comprehensive assessment of short-term suicide risk and for conducting risk assessment interviews in different settings. It also discusses how clinicians' emotional responses to acutely suicidal individuals may help identify those at highest risk.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 544 pages
Publication date: 24 May 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Most people who die by suicide see a clinician prior to taking their lives. Therefore, one of the most difficult determinations clinicians must be able to make is whether any given patient is at risk for suicide in the immediate future. The Suicidal Crisis, Clinical Guide to the Assessment of Imminent Suicide Risk, is the first book written specifically to help clinicians evaluate the risk of such imminent suicidal behavior. The Suicidal Crisis is an essential work for every mental health professional and for anyone who would like to have a framework for understanding suicide. Written by master clinician Dr. Igor Galynker, the book presents methods for a systematic and comprehensive assessment of short-term suicide risk and for conducting risk assessment interviews in different settings. Dr. Galynker describes suicide as an attempt of a vulnerable individual to escape an unbearable life situation, which is perceived as both intolerable and inescapable. What sets the Suicidal Crisis apart from the other books of its kind is its sharp focus on those at the highest risk. It presents a wealth of clinical material within the easy-to-understand and intuitive framework of the Narrative-Crisis model of suicidal behavior. The book contains sixty individual case studies of actual suicidal individuals and their interviews, detailed instructions on how to conduct such interviews, and risk assessment test cases with answer keys. A unique feature of the book, not found in any other book on suicide, is a discussion of how clinicians' emotional responses to acutely suicidal individuals may help identify those at highest risk. In this timely and extensively updated edition, Galynker provides a method for understanding the suicidal process and of identifying those at the highest risk for.

The assessment of imminent suicide risk is a critical task for clinicians, as suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. The Suicidal Crisis, Clinical Guide to the Assessment of Imminent Suicide Risk, is a valuable resource for mental health professionals seeking to better understand and evaluate the risk of suicide in their patients. Written by master clinician Dr. Igor Galynker, the book offers a comprehensive and systematic approach to assessing short-term suicide risk.

The Suicidal Crisis begins by defining suicide as an attempt by a vulnerable individual to escape an unbearable life situation, which is perceived as both intolerable and inescapable. Galynker explains that suicide is often driven by a combination of factors, including mental illness, substance abuse, trauma, financial difficulties, and social isolation. The book then presents a framework for conducting risk assessment interviews in different settings, such as emergency departments, psychiatric clinics, and primary care settings.

One of the key features of the Suicidal Crisis is its focus on those at the highest risk for suicide. The book includes sixty individual case studies of actual suicidal individuals and their interviews, providing a wealth of clinical material for mental health professionals to use in their assessments. The case studies are presented in a narrative format, making it easy to understand the individuals' experiences and motivations for suicide.

In addition to the case studies, the book provides detailed instructions on how to conduct risk assessment interviews. Galynker outlines a step-by-step approach to interviewing patients, including asking about their history of suicide attempts, current symptoms of depression and anxiety, and any recent changes in their life circumstances. The book also includes risk assessment test cases with answer keys, allowing mental health professionals to practice their skills and evaluate their own risk assessment abilities.

Another unique feature of the Suicidal Crisis is its discussion of how clinicians' emotional responses to acutely suicidal individuals may help identify those at highest risk. Galynker explains that emotional responses such as fear, anger, and sadness can be indicators of risk for suicide. He provides guidance on how clinicians can manage their own emotional responses and use them to inform their assessments of suicide risk.

The Suicidal Crisis is an essential work for every mental health professional and for anyone who would like to have a framework for understanding suicide. Written by a master clinician, the book offers a systematic and comprehensive approach to assessing short-term suicide risk and provides valuable clinical material for mental health professionals to use in their assessments. The book's focus on those at the highest risk for suicide and its discussion of how clinicians' emotional responses can help identify those at risk make it a valuable resource for anyone working in the field of mental health.

Weight: 768g
Dimension: 236 x 157 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197582718
Edition number: 2 Revised edition