Patients at risk for suicide

Unfortunately, people at the risk of killing themselves hardly get noticed in the emergency room. This is a major problem thriving in emergency departments (Heller, Haynal-Reymond, Haynal, & Archinard, 2001). This paper will explore the problem of Patients at Risk for Suicide Being Left Unnoticed in the Emergency Room and recommend a solution based upon the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Description of Problem Patients at risk for suicide are being left unnoticed in the emergency room. Wallace (2017) observes that the wake of steadily increasing suicide cases brings about an urgent need for effective preventive strategies in emergency departments. This is vital because, “we can alter the way we think about events much more readily than we can alter the events themselves” (Newman & Newman, 2015, p.

The objective of cognitive behavioral theory is to change the reasoning or a behavior that encourages a person to commit suicide. When this change takes effect, the feelings of a person will definitely change. Therefore, this therapy alters people’s conduct and attitude by focusing on cognitions. One of the essential aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is that it can be implemented in a short period; that is, in five to ten months. Therefore, cognitive behavioral theory can be applied in helping patients at risk of suicide to change their cognitions and behaviors. Solution The solution to the problem of patients at risk for suicide being left unnoticed in the emergency room is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. On average, it has been reported that 9 hours of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy reduces by 50% the possibility of patients reattempting suicide (Tarrier, Taylor, & Gooding, 2008).

The proposed study recommends a three-stage Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program that medical staff in the emergency room can use to diagnose and prevent suicide. This will enable the medical staff in the emergency room to familiarize themselves with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies that will help them to identify patients who are at the risk of suicide. Matthews (2013) states one way to do this is to show genuine sympathy to the victim and create a supportive and safe environment in the emergency room. In the second phase, the medical staff will initiate the process of problem solving by helping the patients challenge the misconceptions and distortions that interfere with their motivation (Tarrier, Taylor, & Gooding, 2008). This is followed by training the victims about problem-solving skills.

Patients should be helped to realize that they have internal and external resources they can utilize to solve their problems. The advantages and disadvantages of suicide should be discussed; this will help the patient understand why they should not commit suicide. Therefore, the staff in the emergency room can eliminate the current problem by applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in diagnosing and treating patients who have a high likelihood of committing suicide. References Cheung, D. S. , Kelly, J. J.  Annals of Emergency Medicine, 55(2), 171-180. Heller, M. , Haynal-Reymond, V. , Haynal, A. , & Archinard, M. org/10. 1186/1472-6920-6-44 Matthews, J. D. Cognitive behavioral therapy approach for suicidal thinking and behaviors in depression. In Mental Disorders-Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives. Development through life: A psychosocial approach.