His parents bring a 16-year-old youngster with suicide thoughts to the office. He has been at odds with his parents since since he refused to quit consuming alcohol, which he does on a regular basis. The patient is the oldest of six children; his mother has lower back problems and relies on him to care for the children, which he finds stressful. His father works two jobs and is frequently unavailable to assist with the children. When his mother is alone with the children at night, she keeps a handgun by her bedside for safety. After being dumped by his lover, the patient dropped out of high school last year. He recently developed Lyme disease, which caused lethargy and myalgia symptoms. Which of the following interventions is the best next step to decrease this patient's risk of completed suicide?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The availability of weapons significantly raises the likelihood of committing suicide. The evaluation of a patient's access to firearms is an important aspect of assessing suicide risk. Other therapies to lower suicide risk include stress reduction, increased psychosocial support, treatment of mental disorders and drug abuse, and pain management.

His Parents Bring a 16-Year-Old Youngster with Suicide Thoughts to the Office