1. According to the consensus panel, people with substance use disorders who are in treatment are at especially high risk of suicidal behavior for many reasons, including:
A. They enter treatment at a point when their substance abuse is out of control, increasing a variety of risk factors for suicide B. They enter treatment when a number of life crises may be occurring C. They enter treatment when their depressive symptoms or other mental health problems are at a peak D. All of the above2. The two major elements of suicide attempts are the subjective level of intent to die (from the client's subjective perspective) and the objective lethality of the act (from a medical perspective).
A. True B. False3. Which of the following in NOT one of the expert recommendations for practitioners as they begin to address suicide with clients?
A. Increase knowledge about suicide including what makes people suicidal, warning signs, and interventions for suicide B. Get good clinical supervision to help increase awareness and practice new skills C. Avoid talking to clients directly about suicidal thoughts or actions, but rather ask them if they feel safe in their current situations D. Work collaboratively with clients, as most do want to talk about their suicidality and participate in order to reduce their pain4. Almost all clients who are actively suicidal have made a decision about dying, and are no longer ambivalent about whether or not they want to live.
A. True B. False5. Safety contracts or 'no suicide contracts' are always recommended as a valuable tool to hold clients accountable for their own behaviors and their responsibilities to themselves and others.
A. True B. False6. Personality traits that may be indicators of long-term or ongoing suicidal risk include proneness to negative affect and:
A. Apathy and/or indifference B. Aggression and/or impulsiveness C. Pessimism and/or intolerance D. Insecurity and/or self-centeredness7. The elements in the GATE four step process to identify and respond and to suicidality must reflect the substance abuse counselor's scope of confidence and should include gathering information, accessing supervision, taking action, and:
A. Engaging the client in investing in the process B. Evaluating the outcome C. Enlisting support to carry out a safety plan D. Extending the action8. The guiding principle of taking responsible action with a client is that suicide risk management requires a team approach and that all actions should be made with thought and care.
A. True B. False9. When screening for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, it is best to ask questions in the context of a larger discussion about subjects such as mood or quality of life.
A. True B. False10. When a client says "yes" to a screening question at intake, each of the following is recommended for follow-up EXCEPT:
A. Always ask close-ended questions first to make the client feel more comfortable before trying to elicit details through open ended-questions B. Be aware that a client's inability or unwillingness to provide the necessary information may be an indicator of increased risk C. Ask a question such as, "Can you tell me about your suicidal thoughts?" D. Ask the client if he or she has made a plan and what it is11. Which of the following is NOT one of the circumstances during treatment that require immediate supervision or consultation?
A. Emergence (or re-emergence) of direct warning signs B. Emergence (or re-emergence) of indirect warning signs that, on follow-up questioning, suggest current risk C. The client reports (or alludes to) a history of suicidal thoughts that the clinician had not previously been aware of D. The client's answers to suicide screening questions asked during the course of treatment suggest current risk12. A common misconception is that suicide risk is an acute problem that, once dealt with, ends, but individuals who are suicidal commonly experience a return of suicide risk following any number of setbacks.
A. True B. False13. Documentation of suicidality is critical to promoting client safety, establishing a solid medical and legal record, and:
A. Coordinating care among treatment professionals B. Monitoring and updating the treatment plan C. Ensuring the most effective use of supervisorial time D. None of the above14. As counselors gain basic knowledge about suicide risk and work with clients, they must learn to manage their own reactions to suicidal behavior, maintain a collaborative, non-adversarial therapeutic stance, and be empathic and nonjudgmental.
A. True B. FalseCopyright © 2024 Mindful Continuing Education
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