{"id":9519,"date":"2023-09-07T09:59:27","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T09:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=9519"},"modified":"2023-09-07T09:59:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T09:59:27","slug":"youth-suicide-a-mental-health-moment-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/07\/youth-suicide-a-mental-health-moment-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth Suicide\u2026.. A Mental Health Moment (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Bernadette Joy Graham, MA, LPCC, LLC Graham.bernadette@gmail.com Weekly Youtube Mentally In-Tune<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Bernadette Joy Graham, MA, LPCC, LLC
\n<\/strong>The Truth Contributor<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many boxes to check when a mental health provider is conducting a diagnostic assessment during the first session of a therapy session or at a mental health facility that law enforcement or an emergency room facility someone has first encountered.\u00a0 Youth or adult, a diagnostic assessment asks very specific questions such as previous abuse that includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or mental.\u00a0 \u201cHave you ever been touched or fondled in a sexual manner in which you did not consent?\u201d<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHas anyone in your family completed a suicide or have you attempted a suicide in the past? <\/em><\/strong>These are just two questions asked on a sometimes 5- page assessment,<\/p>\n

Suicidal, homicidal, self-harm and abuse questions will be asked.\u00a0 Those pertinent boxes are some of the most important due to the risk of the individual repeating or attempting the behavior and gives the provider a better sense of your level of harm done by self, others or both.<\/p>\n

When conducting a diagnostic assessment, not everyone tells the truth, especially youth and if there is a cultural difference between medical provider and youth being asked, that can only cause another issue of verifiable information.\u00a0 Suicide questions should be met with care such as is English the youth\u2019s first language? \u00a0Is the youth being asked the question, Black, is the provider have cultural competency or Black, or is the youth being assessed have any other issues such as hearing deficiencies and need a provider who is fluent in sign language?<\/p>\n

Marginalized populations often have to wait longer, and feeling treated disrespectfully due to\u00a0 a provider not available to meet the youth\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

In part 1 (August) issue of a mental health moment, I communicated that there would be more information on how to prevent youth suicide and how it can be addressed.\u00a0 I began this article with the boxes being checked during a diagnostic assessment for a few reasons.\u00a0 First reason, some providers do not even ask or check the boxes about suicide to include thoughts, plans or means to carry out the act, maybe they are in a rush, maybe they don\u2019t care or it\u2019s close to shift change and second reason even if it is asked or checked is there a follow-up with the parents\/guardians such as are there means in the home the youth could carry out an attempt such as knives, firearms, or other forms such as rope or pills.<\/p>\n

This is a difficult world we live in as not just adults but in general.\u00a0 Some have it worse than others and some have it better than others but the bottom line is when it comes to youth suicide, it\u2019s not about who is without material means it\u2019s about who is without a who?\u00a0 Role models, mentors, parents, family of any kind, coaches and I really want to say teachers but I know teachers have a very difficult job of spending more time with our children than we do.\u00a0 Something will be missed and they should not be held accountable completely about the safety of our youth.\u00a0 From my professional opinion from a mental health provider to a teacher is to acknowledge or report, ask the youth and plainly let them know that they care and direct them to the right places such as phone apps, other school workers such as counselors or coaches even parents but don\u2019t ignore the most basic signs.\u00a0 Yes, I clearly stated earlier that teachers are not counselors but you are still held responsible for the gatekeepers of our children, if you see, or hear or find something say something.\u00a0 It\u2019s the least you can do and if it were your child, you would want someone to do the same.<\/p>\n

Below are some resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n