Preventing Suicide: The Solution Focused Approach

The book looks at secondary suicide prevention (treatment for those thinking about suicide or who are actively suicidal) and is very practically focused. The first chapter reviews the prevention literature and discusses the healthier nation targets. The second chapter outlines solution focused brief therapy and presents the evidence base for this approach. Chapters 3 and 4 focus on risk assessment, management and medication. Chapter 5 presents an in-depth case study and the final chapter presents five shorter case studies. The appendices contain examples of exercises that can be given to clients.

"Includes excellent 'how to do it' case studies as well as practical exercises for the therapist to use, and diagrams to assist communication and understanding within the sessions. I do not hesitate to recommend this book to all workers, since anyone in the helping professions may encounter these issue in practice." - Alasdair Macdonald Consultant Psychiatrist

The approach to the subject of suicidal thinking in this book is ground-breaking, with worldwide implications for reducing suicide rates. It is a departure from the current risk assessment, management and medication approach, which sometimes fails to help people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. Instead, Preventing Suicide: The Solution Focused Approach takes a common sense, empathic, validating and normalising approach to people considering the suicide option to help them resolve their difficulties. In addition, it aims both to give confidence to, and take away the fear from, practitioners who deal with this client group.

This book on suicide prevention is a life-saving instructional handbook for counsellors, therapists, general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health workers, who come into contact with people who are suicidal. Whilst being written for practitioners, it will be also of great benefit to academics who teach students how to be effective with this client group.