Risk Assessment
When do you seek help, and when do you say, “I’ve got this”? When do you opt for consultation or supervision, and when do you trust your professional judgment? As you advance toward the end of your MSW degree, your training, education, and experiences have likely increased your confidence in decision making. You may find that you are now able to handle client situations independently, whereas you needed Helpance in the past.
When it comes to clients exhibiting warning signs of suicidality, however, you are more likely to need support in order to meet legal and ethical requirements, agency policies, and your professional responsibility to the client. Such situations can involve deciphering client comments to determine whether there is an obvious threat of impending harm, or just vague references with no means to follow through.
For this Discussion, you navigate a scenario involving a client at risk for suicide, making choices about your questioning, techniques, and need for support. You then reflect on the scenario and the extent to which the choices you made align with your agency’s policies.
To prepare:
• Access and complete the interactive media in the Learning Resources.
• Consider the choices you make while navigating the client scenario and your reasoning behind those choices.
• Explore your agency’s policies concerning clients at risk.
BY DAY 3
Post a reflection on the decisions you made in the risk assessment client scenario. What did you choose to do, and why? Then, describe your agency’s scope of practice and its policies related to clients at risk. How would these policies have changed your actions in the interactive scenario?
REFERENCES
• Walden University, LLC. (2023). Suicide risk assessment in advanced practiceLinks to an external site. [Interactive media]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
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Reflection on Risk Assessment Client Scenario
In the interactive media scenario, I was presented with a client who was exhibiting warning signs of suicidality. The client had recently lost her job, was struggling with financial problems, and was feeling hopeless about the future. She also had a history of depression and had attempted suicide in the past.
I began by asking the client about her thoughts and feelings. I wanted to get a sense of how she was feeling and what she was thinking about suicide. I also asked her about her support system and whether she had any plans to harm herself.
The client told me that she had been feeling increasingly depressed and hopeless. She said that she didn’t see a way out of her situation and that she didn’t want to live anymore. She also told me that she had been thinking about suicide and had even made a plan.
I was concerned about the client’s safety and I knew that I needed to take action. I told the client that I was worried about her and that I wanted to help her. I also told her that I was required by law to report any threats of suicide to a mental health professional.
The client was upset when I told her that I was going to report her. She said that she didn’t want anyone to know about her suicidal thoughts and that she didn’t want to be hospitalized.
I explained to the client that I was only doing what I was required to do. I also told her that I would do everything I could to help her get the help she needed.
I contacted the mental health professional on call and reported the client’s suicidal thoughts. The mental health professional agreed to see the client and I arranged for her to be transported to the hospital.
I was relieved that the client was getting the help she needed. I also felt confident that I had made the right decision in reporting her.
Agency Scope of Practice and Policies Related to Clients at Risk
My agency’s scope of practice includes providing mental health services to individuals, families, and groups. We are committed to providing safe and effective care to all of our clients.
Our agency has a number of policies in place to protect our clients from harm. These policies include:
A policy on suicide risk assessment and management
A policy on mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect
A policy on confidentiality
The policy on suicide risk assessment and management requires all staff to be trained in suicide risk assessment and management. The policy also requires staff to report any threats of suicide to a mental health professional.
The policy on mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect requires all staff to report any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities.
The policy on confidentiality protects the privacy of our clients’ information. This policy prohibits staff from disclosing any confidential information about our clients without their consent.
These policies are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our clients. They also help us to comply with legal and ethical requirements.
How Would the Agency’s Policies Have Changed My Actions in the Interactive Scenario?
The agency’s policies would have changed my actions in the interactive scenario in a few ways. First, I would have been required to report the client’s suicidal thoughts to a mental health professional. Second, I would have been prohibited from disclosing any confidential information about the client without her consent.
I believe that the agency’s policies are important and that they help to ensure the safety and well-being of our clients. I am committed to following these policies and I believe that they are essential to providing quality care to our clients.
