Key Steps to Reduce Suicide

Abstract

enforcement officers, were dispatched on a general disturbance call. A neighbor had called 911 saying she heard a loud argument in the house next door, and it sounded like someone might get hurt. Arriving at the scene, the officers found a husband and wife arguing, but no one was physically hurt. Stephen, the husband, was intoxicated. His wife, Linda, said that he had been out of work for six months, and they were having financial problems. Recently he’d also been depressed and lethargic, and kept saying things like “I’m tired of all this and just want to end it all. ” Joe asked Stephen if he was thinking of killing himself. Stephen admitted that he had considered taking his life. Joe said that Stephen needed to go to the hospital so that he could be evaluated and get help to deal with his problems. After some hesitation and reluctance, Stephen finally agreed to go. At the hospital, Joe told the emergency department physician that Stephen had become depressed after being unemployed for six months and he had been drinking and had admitted that he considered taking his life. The physician thanked Joe for the information and said it was helpful. (Based on the experiences of a law enforcement officer