is altered by COMMUNICATION. No disrespect to the numerous scientist who strive to find the best treatment medication or therapy that will help those with severe depression and suicidality, but from my novice experience as a psychiatrist, I find the best therapy is TALK.
I'm not denying the benefit of anti-depressants and the incredible success we've had with these wonderful Selective-Serotonin-Reuptake-Inhibitors (SSRIs) but bottom line...
When someone is suicidal the only thing that will remove them from that state of mind is the art of communication
Being able to reach into your patient, tell him what he has to live for and explain him the reason he feels there is nothing to live for is transient versus the life he chooses to end is permanent is the technique I've chosen to deter people from their current goals.
No one can argue against the power of persuasion...it's how we live our lives on a day to day basis. We convince ouselves to do the things we do and we convince others to do the things we want them to do...and after awhile, we all become experts at it.
In the last week, I've had the priviledge of convincing 3 inmates to reconsider their suicidal ideations and consider the other aspects of life that are so easily forgotten when one gets to that state of mind. It's amazing to me to see the impact one can have just by listening and then reassuring them of the positives.
I think a more interesting question for a wonderful discussion on my couch and a couple glasses of wine would be...
How is that the psyche is SO powerful that it can take over the brain's
natural, innate desire to survive...think of Darwin's principles...Then I raise
you another question....is suicide the brain's attempt to undergo mass
apoptosis? A cell goes bad...you're body kills it. The brain goes bad...does
your body think to kill it?
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