You have been called to a college dormitory where campus police are talking to a 20-year-old male who was threatening to jump from his eighteenth-floor window. The patient admits that he was upset because he is failing most of his courses and his girlfriend broke up with him but says he was just "psyching out" his roommate and had no intention of jumping. Campus police tell you that the patient was sitting on the balcony railing with his feet over the edge when they arrived. The patient was cooperative when they asked him to come back inside the room. Which of the following is the best course of action?
A) Consider it a police matter, and mark in service.
B) Have the police place the patient under immediate detention, and transport the patient in restraints.
C) Tell the patient you must take his suicide threat seriously and transport him for evaluation.
D) Have the patient sign a refusal form as long as the roommate will take responsibility for staying with him.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Any suicide threat should always be taken seriously, even if the patient claims to be "psyching out" someone else. The fact that the patient was sitting on the balcony with his feet over the edge is a serious concern. The patient needs to be transported for evaluation to ensure that he is safe and to address the underlying issues that led to the suicidal thoughts.

You Have Been Called to a College Dormitory Where Campus