Overview

According to the World Health Organization, approximately one million people died as a result of suicide in the year 2000. That is one death every 40 seconds. Nurses have been involved in the care of the suicidal person, in one form or another, since the inception of formal mental health services. Despite this, there is a lack of theoretically robust and/or empirically induced information on how such care can and should be carried out. This book is the first of its kind. It is based on a three year qualitative study (a study that was funded by the United Kingdom Department of Health) that investigated how psychiatric nurses provided care for suicidal people. Drawing on service user data, this book contains and explains an evidence-based (empirically induced) theory of how to care for suicidal people. Far from being an esoteric theory with no clinical applicability, the findings captured in this book are grounded in the reality of day-to-day practice. Furthermore, in addition to tracing the role of nurses in caring for suicidal people, the authors use their findings to launch into formal level issues regarding future research, education and policy; as well as focusing on the ethical issues involved in care of the suicidal person. The authors close by shifting the focus on 'suicide survivors' and with the help of contributing authors. As the eminent suicidology scholars who have generously provided their Forewords note - this is a must-read book for anyone involved in the care of the suicidal person.

Full Product Details

9780443101960

Table of Contents

Reviews

This stimulating book looks at care of a person rather than treatment of a patient, emphasising rather than cold clinical procedure, and recovery rather than cure.<br>Clinical staff, managers and policy makers should pay heed to this book. <br>- Reviewed by; Community mental health nurse, Wigan. Nursing Standard:: August 8:: vol 21 no 48:: 2007<br>------------------------------------------------------------- <br> This book throws out a timely challenge to current practice in the mental health nursing of suicidal people. 'Close observation', driven by a culture of risk assessment, has become the default setting for suicide prevention in inpatient settings, but, as the authors point out, observation isn't synonymous with care.<br>Based on their own in-depth interviews with suicidal people, the authors argue that nurses must stop watching their patients and start engaging with them, providing intense, human warmth to help people who are profoundly disconnected from social and family c

This stimulating book looks at care of a person rather than treatment of a patient, emphasising rather than cold clinical procedure, and recovery rather than cure.Clinical staff, managers and policy makers should pay heed to this book. - Reviewed by; Community mental health nurse, Wigan. Nursing Standard:: August 8:: vol 21 no 48:: 2007------------------------------------------------------------- This book throws out a timely challenge to current practice in the mental health nursing of suicidal people. 'Close observation', driven by a culture of risk assessment, has become the default setting for suicide prevention in inpatient settings, but, as the authors point out, observation isn't synonymous with care.Based on their own in-depth interviews with suicidal people, the authors argue that nurses must stop watching their patients and start engaging with them, providing intense, human warmth to help people who are profoundly disconnected from social and family contacts to re-engage with humanity. They outline the core psychological processes that can be used to achieve this, and their methodology of grounded theory provided a conceptual overview to aid readers' understanding of this complex subject, with quotes from interviewees as useful illustrations.I like the down-to-earthiness of the practice discussion points. Who could argue with the propositions that nurses should be comfortable talking about suicide, that they should be prepared to listen rather than talk, and that interpersonal, care-based work should replace risk-orientated work and medication, with nursing care firmly rooted in the recovery model?The authors also discuss the implications for future research and policy, and ethical and legal issues, while the final chapter addresses the important contribution of suicide survivors to the care of other suicidal people.This book provides clear messages for qualified nurses and those in training, and for psychiatrists. It should be widely available to all mental health staff. - Reviewed by Lesley Warner, Mental Health Today, December 2007

This stimulating book looks at care of a person rather than treatment of a patient, emphasising rather than cold clinical procedure, and recovery rather than cure.<br>Clinical staff, managers and policy makers should pay heed to this book. <br>- Reviewed by; Community mental health nurse, Wigan. Nursing Standard:: August 8:: vol 21 no 48:: 2007<br>------------------------------------------------------------- <br> This book throws out a timely challenge to current practice in the mental health nursing of suicidal people. 'Close observation', driven by a culture of risk assessment, has become the default setting for suicide prevention in inpatient settings, but, as the authors point out, observation isn't synonymous with care.<br>Based on their own in-depth interviews with suicidal people, the authors argue that nurses must stop watching their patients and start engaging with them, providing intense, human warmth to help people who are profoundly disconnected from social and family contacts to re-engage with humanity. They outline the core psychological processes that can be used to achieve this, and their methodology of grounded theory provided a conceptual overview to aid readers' understanding of this complex subject, with quotes from interviewees as useful illustrations.The authors also discuss the implications forfuture research and policy, and ethical and legal issues, while the final chapter addresses the important contribution of suicide survivors to the care of other suicidal people.<br>This book provides clear messages for qualified nurses and those in training, and for psychiatrists. It should be widely available to all mental health staff. <br>- Reviewed by Lesley Warner, Mental Health Today, December 2007

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Countries Available