Suicide Intervention Plan (SIP) Assignment
Liberty University
Suicide Prevention Plan
Presenting Problem
Joanne is a forty-five-old divorcee who has a long history of depression. Three previous
suicide attempts have been recorded, two involving overdosing, and one attempt when slitting
her wrist. She is under continued care from a psychiatrist, and is on pharmaceutical mood
regulating medications, which she is currently not complying with. She has come to the office
outside of any notice or scheduled appointment to share how much we mean to her, and her level
of appreciation. She says this with a sense of finality, as if she is saying goodbye. Upon
questioning she does admit to having a gun in her car. She does not wish to talk about her
current mood and feelings further, preferring to continue her plan to “go for a drive.” While she
refuses to stay and talk, it is very clear knowing her capability, and using the SLAP Assessment
to measure her intent, that Joanne is a very high-risk suicidal client (Sommers-Flanagan &
Sommers-Flanagan, 2017).
Precipitating Events
Joanne’s ongoing battle with depression, as suicidal ideations as well as suicide attempts
and even plans fail under diagnostic criteria for many depression disorders found in the DSM-5
(APA, 2013). Her fixation on her job, and her level of satisfaction from it, which is also very
stressful, and consuming is also worth noting. Her limited lack of involvement in things outside
of work, and even with her family shows that she is currently social isolated, and her social
support system is not known. She is not currently in any relationships and has not dated since
her divorce fifteen years ago. The one disclosed relationship was an affair with her sister’s
husband, which lasted for a year, but ended seven years ago. Joanne is not in contact with her
, sister to this day due to the guilt she feels from the affair, as well as her sister’s husband
continual attempts to contact her.
Risk Factors
There are many suicidal risk factors to consider with Joanne. When considering what
those risk factors are, it is important to look at her demographics, traits, behaviors, or any
situation connected to a suicide attempt. When considering her demographics, being female, her
age, and a divorcee all place her at an increased risk for suicide (Sommers-Flanagan &
Sommers-Flanagan, 2017). There are also some risk factors seen in her behaviors. Her three
previous suicide attempts are one of the highest risk factors in her case, as previous attempts
have been linked to an increased risk of suicide (Sadek, 2019). Other behavior risk factors
would be her level of social isolation she is currently in, and the unknown status of her social
support system. From her visit to the office unannounced, it is also known that she has
immediate access to a firearm, which is also seen as a risk factor for suicide (Sadek, 2019). With
this risk factor, she can be considered both chronically high risk due to her previous attempts and
her major mental illness, as well as acutely high risk, making an intervention a necessary and
ethically responsible mandate at this timed (Sadek, 2019).
Referral Sources
In planning an intervention there are a multitude of resources and types of intervention
methods that can be chosen. Joanne has previous suicide attempts, and there should be an
existing customized safety plan, which would be great to review at this time. In it will detail
information about what her preferred care plan is, including the complete suicide risk
assessment, intervention guidance, and monitoring policy (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2018;
Sadek, 2019). A social support system can be instrumental here, which will prove to be
challenging, as Joanne’s current support system is unknown, including status with family, other
then her ongoing estrangement with her sister. With the amount of time that she has been
Liberty University
Suicide Prevention Plan
Presenting Problem
Joanne is a forty-five-old divorcee who has a long history of depression. Three previous
suicide attempts have been recorded, two involving overdosing, and one attempt when slitting
her wrist. She is under continued care from a psychiatrist, and is on pharmaceutical mood
regulating medications, which she is currently not complying with. She has come to the office
outside of any notice or scheduled appointment to share how much we mean to her, and her level
of appreciation. She says this with a sense of finality, as if she is saying goodbye. Upon
questioning she does admit to having a gun in her car. She does not wish to talk about her
current mood and feelings further, preferring to continue her plan to “go for a drive.” While she
refuses to stay and talk, it is very clear knowing her capability, and using the SLAP Assessment
to measure her intent, that Joanne is a very high-risk suicidal client (Sommers-Flanagan &
Sommers-Flanagan, 2017).
Precipitating Events
Joanne’s ongoing battle with depression, as suicidal ideations as well as suicide attempts
and even plans fail under diagnostic criteria for many depression disorders found in the DSM-5
(APA, 2013). Her fixation on her job, and her level of satisfaction from it, which is also very
stressful, and consuming is also worth noting. Her limited lack of involvement in things outside
of work, and even with her family shows that she is currently social isolated, and her social
support system is not known. She is not currently in any relationships and has not dated since
her divorce fifteen years ago. The one disclosed relationship was an affair with her sister’s
husband, which lasted for a year, but ended seven years ago. Joanne is not in contact with her
, sister to this day due to the guilt she feels from the affair, as well as her sister’s husband
continual attempts to contact her.
Risk Factors
There are many suicidal risk factors to consider with Joanne. When considering what
those risk factors are, it is important to look at her demographics, traits, behaviors, or any
situation connected to a suicide attempt. When considering her demographics, being female, her
age, and a divorcee all place her at an increased risk for suicide (Sommers-Flanagan &
Sommers-Flanagan, 2017). There are also some risk factors seen in her behaviors. Her three
previous suicide attempts are one of the highest risk factors in her case, as previous attempts
have been linked to an increased risk of suicide (Sadek, 2019). Other behavior risk factors
would be her level of social isolation she is currently in, and the unknown status of her social
support system. From her visit to the office unannounced, it is also known that she has
immediate access to a firearm, which is also seen as a risk factor for suicide (Sadek, 2019). With
this risk factor, she can be considered both chronically high risk due to her previous attempts and
her major mental illness, as well as acutely high risk, making an intervention a necessary and
ethically responsible mandate at this timed (Sadek, 2019).
Referral Sources
In planning an intervention there are a multitude of resources and types of intervention
methods that can be chosen. Joanne has previous suicide attempts, and there should be an
existing customized safety plan, which would be great to review at this time. In it will detail
information about what her preferred care plan is, including the complete suicide risk
assessment, intervention guidance, and monitoring policy (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2018;
Sadek, 2019). A social support system can be instrumental here, which will prove to be
challenging, as Joanne’s current support system is unknown, including status with family, other
then her ongoing estrangement with her sister. With the amount of time that she has been
