| In helping a person deal with suicidal thoughts, it is best | | | | person. |
| to combine the approach of treating the underlying | | | | 3. Problem-solving. |
| mental disorder and treating suicidal tendencies directly. | | | | For cases that may not involve other psychological |
| A five-point suicide prevention plan, dubbed SUPER, is | | | | illnesses such as depression, it may be helpful to take |
| presented below: | | | | note of Shneidman's approach in preventing suicide. |
| 1. Savoring love. | | | | Following his ten commandments, it becomes ultimately |
| The social support system of the person with suicidal | | | | necessary to help the person seek a solution, which is |
| thoughts must let the people concerned know about | | | | outside the person's realm of thinking. |
| the emotional condition of that suicidal person. A | | | | As what Gerald Davidson, John Neale and Ana Kring |
| suicidal individual may feel that he is alone amidst many | | | | explained in the article found in Abnormal Psychology: |
| problems that he is facing. | | | | "Some Myths about Suicide," suicidal people do not |
| He may need reassurance of the love and support of | | | | necessarily want to die. Instead, they only want to |
| his loved ones; and these people must know that they | | | | escape the negative life events they are facing. |
| are there to help the person feel the warmth, | | | | Hence, an effective suicide prevention program must |
| appreciation, assistance, and encouragement that he | | | | help the person understand that killing himself is not the |
| felt he had lost. | | | | solution. Instead, the person must be taught of a |
| Under this step, the person and his family and/or social | | | | problem-solving mechanism through which he can |
| circles may organize bonding activities, such as eating | | | | determine various options in dealing with the problem |
| meals together. Such activities will help reestablish links | | | | and assess the consequences of each action that he |
| to empower the personal feeling of that suicidal | | | | takes. It may consist of a flowchart of things to do, |
| person. Furthermore, the family or the social circle from | | | | with elaborations for each step so that he can take |
| which the person experiences alienation may undergo | | | | note of the fact that each decision he makes must |
| counseling sessions that will determine communication | | | | really be a carefully thought decision. |
| gaps needed to be filled in. | | | | 4. Establishing contacts. |
| 2. Uncovering underlying causes. | | | | It will be wise to give the person numbers of suicide |
| It must be understood that suicide may only be the | | | | service centers such as 24-hour hotlines of |
| so-called tip of the iceberg. Thus, it is extremely | | | | psychological therapy clinics that he can get in touch |
| important to determine the underlying causes for the | | | | with whenever he feels very down or depressed. |
| person's suicidal thoughts. For example, the person | | | | 5. Rediscovering the joy of living. |
| may be suffering from treatable mental disorders such | | | | Suicidal persons may have forgotten the joy of living |
| as depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, or | | | | that they would most certainly miss if they choose to |
| borderline personality disorder. If such is the case, you | | | | die. Therefore, "rediscovery" trips will be effective in |
| must help the person avail of services from duly | | | | making them realize that committing suicide will deprive |
| authorized therapists or physicians who will be able to | | | | them of so many wonders of the world, especially |
| give immediate relief to counter the suffering of that | | | | those activities that the person are very interested in. |