Suicide is perhaps only the extreme and final boundary of self harm, however
not all suicide or self harm is as clear cut, there is also longstanding
self neglect, or indeed taking risks that put one in the way of danger but
not caring.
It isn't always about depression either, it is about many things, it is as
complex as all experience of life itself, part of it, not something apart to
be compartmentalised and shut away within a closed ward.
I have seen self harm close up to, but what can you do, it is what some
people do, and do again and again. Eventually you end up neither being
surprised nor shocked by it, it is simply that persons normality which you
cannot deal with for them.
Several of my neurodiverse friends and acquaintances bear the scars of self
harm, they do not bear them as "stigmata" though, indeed they do not wish to
be stigmatised by peoples reaction to them at all.
For my part if I can call such a thing a living will, I would expect people
to intervene to prevent my suicide, but not to take extreme or unreasonable
measures to prevent it. I would consider being on a locked ward with no
access to sharp things so unreasonable an act that it would make me the more
determined and my life all the more meaningless and disturbed. I have also
rationally declined anti depressants when offered.
Each person is an individual I can only speak for myself there but to mend
the symptoms without addressing the cause seems wrong to me.
Larry
> -----Original Message-----
> From: The Disability-Research Discussion List [mailto:DISABILITY-
> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Derick Bird
> Sent: 16 November 2010 10:32
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: suicide
>
>
> There are a number of issues to consider, when conducting a mental health
> assessment on a person with suicidal ideation, on whether compulsory
> admission for psychiatric treatment is appropriate.
>
> It is necessary to distinguish whether an attempt or blotched suicide
> attempt is a cry for help and no definable mental illness is present.
Quite
> often, in these cases, there is absolute desperation and despondency in
not
> knowing which way to turn combined with an inability to seek support due
to
> any number of factors. Relationships, work stress, conflict with
sexuality
> - the list of reasons is endless. All that is often necessary is to cause
> an enabling situation to talk about what really matters to them where they
> can find for themselves a reason to continue living.
>
> We should be asking why society has created this situation where it is
> impossible to share emotions and discuss 'needs' where feelings have
become
> so deeply suppressed. It is even more distressing to undertake MH
assessment
> on adolescents who have self-harmed, experiencing drug/alcohol induced
> psychosis or in a state of self hatred feeling unloved or unwanted or are
> victims of bullying.
>
> The difficulty is distinguishing the level of depression or merely just
> fed-up with life. As a professional is it necessary to save them from
> themselves and place them in a secure and safe environment to be medicated
> or even, in some case, be given barbaric ECT to shock them out of their
> depression. Where clinical depression is present, being a definable
> psychosis, the answer is easy. But where it is not so apparent there are
> muddy waters. How is the depression generated - reactive, indulgent or
> agitated depression. Would a course of anti-depressants help the
situation.
> What is available in the locality of none evasive treatment in terms of
> support of group therapy, art and dance therapy, to create a self
awareness
> or on offer are traditional psychiatric methods like a puncture repair!
It
> is well to note that not always is depression, anxiety and or panic
> presented.
>
> It is not possible to reach the root cause of suicidal ideation in a short
> assessment and making the wrong decision can have consequences of a failed
> attempt becoming reality. This can weigh heavily on the conscience asking
> whether a compulsory admission would have prevented the actual suicide.
> Suicidal ideation is not a mental illness nor is depression - if we are
> honest we have all been there and have had these thoughts - but we see
this
> as being irrational and are dismissive not realising to the person with
> suicidal ideation it is very rational as they are very real feelings to
that
> person.
>
> They seek answers when often there are no answers. In a previous life,
> before retirement, I was often found conducting MH assessments for court
> diversion. Again it was necessary to distinguish whether their criminal
act
> was due to a mental illness or their current state of mind was due to the
> consequences of their actions. The outcome was the difference between
> charges being dropped or in all probability imprisonment. The problem
with
> being a professional in the mental health field is that we were not
trained
> to be infallible so often could get it horribly wrong with adverse
> consequences.
>
> I have not read Thinking About Suicide yet until I can get my hands on a
> copy as it will be interesting to read how David Webb addresses the issues
I
> have raised.
>
> Derick
>
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