Suicide risk management

Suicide is not inevitable. Most people experiencing suicidal thoughts are ambivalent about dying but may be unable to imagine other potential solutions. With the right support people can find their way through a suicidal crisis and recover.

In this podcast, Alys Cole-King, Clinical Director 4Mental Health and Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Wales, talks us through managing those with suicidal thoughts, and why we need a paradigm shift in suicide risk assessment that moves away from ‘characterising, predicting, and managing risk’ towards ‘compassion, safeguarding, and safety planning’.

For more on suicide risk management, visit BMJ Best Practice: bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/1016

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The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others.