Suicide Awareness: Part 2
We hope your transition into fall is full of comfort and coziness. This week we will be continuing our series on suicide in honor of suicide prevention month, with a focus on treatment. If you missed our first installment, click back for some more context on this subject, as well as other topics you might find relevant such as anxiety, routines and communication tips!
I would like to start this post by again emphasizing that if you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, there are many supports that can be accessed whether it be crisis lines or counselling clinics – you are not alone!
When it comes to treating a person who is experiencing suicidal ideation and thoughts, there are a few different modalities that have proven to be effective. The following three types of therapeutic orientations have been used to help people heal and manage but are not the only approaches available.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) – This type of therapy is designed to help manage strong emotions with a large focus on practical skill building within the four pillars that make up the structure of DBT (mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness). The word dialectical refers to how two seemingly opposite things can be true at once, and in this case, how an emotion can be both helpful and harmful at the same time. There is an emphasis on validating the experience someone is going through, but to also fine tune where their behaviour could have been improved for a better outcome. In the case of suicidal thoughts or behaviours, the therapist would validate the feelings that might be stressful but give clients tools to help express or process them in a way that does not put them in danger. Check out the Calm Harm app for many suggestions that can help with getting through difficult emotions all from the convenience of your phone!
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – This approach can help people deal with the reality of difficult situations in which they may not have a lot of control. It encourages being able to accept our thoughts and feelings for what they are, focus on the values that matter to us most, and committing to change that reflects how we can portray our values authentically. As discussed in the last blog, suicidal thoughts can be the result of not seeing any hope for the future; this therapy would work to identify the value in a person’s life and build hope for themselves from that, followed by collaboratively establishing goals for a better quality of life.
Trauma Informed Therapies (EMDR, ART) – Sometimes the pain of our past experiences, no matter from how long ago, can be so powerful it seems like the only way to feel better would be to not be alive. This is when we exist in our emotional brain and not our rational brain. There are a few forms of therapy that use physical interventions, such as guided eye movements in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) to help desensitize the response we have to a negative memory or unresolved trauma. Some people might not have very significant outcomes with traditional talk therapy but can effectively benefit from a somatic-based intervention.
Ultimately, it is best to use a style of therapy that matches what you need. A therapist can help you determine what the root of a problem is and suggest a treatment plan that is appropriate for meeting your goals!
To close out, we will leave resources here just in case you or someone you know needs help right away:
Emergency Crisis Line - 988 (call or text)
Distress Centre for Calgary – (403)-266-4357 (call or text)
Centre for Suicide Prevention - https://www.suicideinfo.ca/
Kidshelpphone – 1 800 668 6868
Seek help from a licenced professional
Seek support from peers and family members if available
Going to the closest hospital if you or someone you care about needs immediate mental health support
Please reach out to us at Center Street Psychology if you would like to discuss more about our services. We provide support to a variety of populations and are educated to support people experiencing suicidal ideation. We provide a collaborative approach and are happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation to help potential “fit” with one of our counsellors. We are an inclusive clinic, located in Calgary, Alberta, providing in-person, virtual or hybrid services within Alberta and across Canada. Please call 403-399-5120 to speak with our Director of Client Care, Amy, who will gently guide you through the counselling process.
Written by: Tyler Schamehorn
