Clinicians' attitudes toward no-suicide agreements

Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1995 Fall;25(3):410-4.

Abstract

Though no-suicide agreements are widely used and often recommended for suicidal patients, their sparse empirical support leads to questions regarding their use with patients of various ages. To answer this question, 46 licensed psychologist members of a Southern state psychology association answered questions regarding their beliefs and attitudes about no-suicide agreements. Such agreements were considered more appropriate for adults or adolescents than children. They were judged highly appropriate with moderately suicidal patients and were expected to help patients postpone suicide until after a crisis had past and to help reduce clinicians' anxiety.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Attitude*
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workforce