Managing Suicidal Risk: A Collaborative Approach

by David A. Jobes, Edwin S. Shneidman (Foreword)

This clinical manual offers essential tools and guidance for therapists of any orientation faced with the complex challenges of assessing and treating a suicidal patient. In a large, ready-to-photocopy format, the book provides step-by-step instructions and reproducible forms for evaluating suicidal risk, developing a suicide-specific outpatient treatment plan, and tracking clinical progress and outcomes using documentation that can help to reduce the risk of malpractice liability. In addition to providing a flexible structure for assessment and intervention, The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) approach is designed to strengthen the therapeutic alliance and increase patient motivation. Highly readable and user friendly, the volume builds on 15 years of empirically oriented clinical research.

Genres: Psychology, Social Work, Nonfiction, Psychiatry, Counselling, Mental Health, Death

222 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2006

Reviews

[cypt · Rating 4 out of 5]

sunku vertint knygą, kuri: a) parašyta specialistams, o aš tokia nesu, b) dealina su savižudybių prevencija - protinga ir jautria, o ne "mes ištrauksim tave iš kilpos per prievartą, tu neturi teisės žudytis", kas savaime yra didis gėris, tikslas ir siekiamybė. bet išdrįsau numušt 1 žvaižgdutę, nes ant tiek atsibodo autoriaus ego ego, "mūsų tyrimai" "mūsų rezultatai" "mes kūl", kad jau norėjau ką nors paleist į ekraną.

bet šitam kontekste yra svarbesnių dalykų negu litkokybė. knyga ką tik išversta į lt kalbą, bus naudojama mokymuose (kol kas vilniuje, bet tikiuosi, kad ir plačiau), bus rengiami žmonės, kurie ir kurios šitą metodą - kaip žmogų atjausti, su juo ir ja pasikalbėti, galbūt net padėti išspręsti problemas, kurios vienam atrodo neišsprendžiamos - taikys ligoninės, konsultacijų ir kt praktikoje. labai norisi tikėtis, kad taip išgelbės bent vieną žmogų, o tai jau ir bus didžiausias benefitas.

[Nathan Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for clinicians. Thankful to Dr. Jobes and his lifelong career of working with and researching suicidal people.

His writing style can be a bit dry at times, but this book and his work are nonetheless invaluable resources.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quotes:

Most suicidal people do not want an end to their biological existence; rather, they want an end to their psychological pain and suffering.

Shneidman has asserted that every suicidal act occurs when maximum levels of psychological pain, stress, and agitation are realized.

What exactly does “clear and imminent” danger to self mean? In my experience, suicidal states are hardly ever “clear.” Invariably suicidal states are much more shades of gray rather than crystal. And what about “imminent”? Does it mean, right this second, later today, or sometime this week?

What we saw was a predominance of responses linked to relational and vocational issues. Perhaps Sigmund Freud was right when he argued that happiness in life centers on work and love.

For treatment to work with suicidal patients, both the clinician and patient must set about systematically eliminating reasons for dying while simultaneously working to develop, infuse, and increase more reasons for wanting to live.

In cases of clinical abandonment, the patient has been suddenly dropped from clinical care in an unexpected manner leaving the patient vulnerable with no effort extended by the clinician to ensure that he or she receives any ongoing therapeutic care or support. It is a different situation when a clinician takes a thoughtful and principled position on behalf of the patient’s best interest that may ultimately compel the clinician to bring the treatment to an end.

In cases in which a patient’s abject refusal to abide by certain necessary conditions of appropriate treatment compel the clinician to potentially bring the care to an end, it is important to 1) transparently work in the best interest of the patient, 2) be absolutely clear about the necessary elements of treatment (and why they are necessary), 3) make every reasonable effort to make referrals that would bridge the patient to other appropriate care, 4) seek professional consultation, and 5) carefully document one’s decision making in relation to the patient’s best interest (it is also wise to document in detail the input of one’s professional consultant).

Firearms [are] the number-one choice of both male and female completers in the United States across all ages (National Center for Health Statistics, 2003).

It has been argued that 80-90% of what determines in the mind of the attorney whether a malpractice case should be pursued depends principally on the quality of the written medical record (Wise, Jobes, Simpson, & Berman, 2005).

[Charla · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this, I'm looking forward to continuing my CAMS training. I wouldn't recommend this as a standalone resource to learn about suicide necesssarily. I'm looking forward to use some of the information I gained from it in my CAMS training though.

[Brittany Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second addition was released in 2016. I purchased this book to accompany the training, and it was critical to aid my confidence. CAMS is a user-friendly clinical tool that, when used appropriately, really reduced my burnout working with clients suffering from suicidal states.

[Marissa Savala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recently re-introduced to CAMS in a continuing education seminar on treating suicidal clients. I ordered and read Managing Suicidal Risk second edition, and am excited to begin my CAMS journey! I’m completing the necessary steps to become CAMS certified and begin using this clients in my practice!

[Jreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was published in 2016 and is a part of a body of work by Dr. Jobes after some 30+ years of research and working with suicidal patients and teams. The work is talked about within the American Association of Suicidology and other smaller organizations. The book is for clinicians and behavioral health professionals/technicians. Whereas most larger and smaller scale agencies (from Department of Defense and VA) to mid size (university research facilities) to Medicaid and private based agencies generally have established protocols, they are largely formulaic.

The emphasis with CAMS is very clear. The reader/clinician is encouraged to work collaboratively with the client to learn and share an understanding of why that person is suicidal , to develop a plan to reduce/eliminate those behaviors which will be replaced with more effective behaviors (to reduce the emotional responses to events or thoughts which had made suicide a solution). The book is also explicit in why documentation is important to minimize any blame/litigation if a suicide is completed.

The good parts far outweigh any not so good parts.

The Good
Persons in this field are aware you have to make a connection to patients and that change is possible. Sometimes patients/clients do not have this awareness when they start. There are excellent examples of what to say, how to approach. Persons in this field are also aware that there are ramifications which may occur in a completed or even attempted suicide. There are numerous citations and this' all research based.

The Not So Good--and not the author's fault
The limited duplication license is explicit. Practitioners can make copies of the forms for use with individual clients. They cannot do team trainings or use for group purposes. I am assuming, that team training is pricey (although I am pursuing information on that). And with training goes consultation, often coding, etc. The author has to protect their intellectual property and all of the time that went into research (often decades).

So. Overall, very good book (which I purchased from Guilford).

[Robert Bogue]

The first highlight is “helping people find their way out of suicidal despair.” That is a wonderful testimony and summary of Managing Suicidal Risk: A Collaborative Approach. Sometimes when you read a book, you get a real sense for the heart of the author, and this is the heart of David Jobes: to reduce the pain and suffering that leads to suicidal despair.

Read more

[G Collerone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any therapist that deals with a suicidal client should own this book. Step by Step, Dr. Jobes explains the reasons behind how the SSF (suicide status form) is easy and an essential clinical tool. It is efficient and helps sort through a crisis and both clinician and client work together for the common goal: saving the client from self destruction.