Suicide and Depression Questions: Va Beach Fire Dept

Suicide Questions – Turn On Your Thinking
Fire and Public Safety Personnel, indeed anyone dealing with the public and depression or the mandatory suicide question: Get the most important question exactly right at the outset. Think about how the mind is working, how the person is thinking – then to the action question. See this video, a training interview for potentially suicidal women or men with Capt. April Elmore at the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center .

First:
Ask the suicide question this way: “Even though you wouldn’t do it, have you ever considered seriously harming yourself?” So many ask the suicide question too imprecisely, almost too casually, and need to focus on the mind first, then the possible action. This is a what question.

Then:
Ask about the possibility of self destructive action, an active plan, or specific next moment thoughts. This is a how and a when question. Why will come much later after everyone is safe.

If we don’t  ask the suicide question from the thinking side of the fence we may miss it entirely.

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