no-suicide contracts

Anyones T ever had you write and sign a no-suicide contract? What were the terms and what happens if you still take suicidal actions?

i made a verbal agreement with my t... that i wouldn't take any action until i have spoken with him face to face... i don't have to (but he wants me too) if i am going to si... he checks in with me on the subject often... not too sure what would happen if i tried to follow through but, he has made it clear that he would do what he needed to do to keep me safe.. lyn

My previous T did, had it typed and all the issues numbered. I tried to stay with it and follow the agreement, but it was very hard.

If I had taken any attempts, it was instant involuntary hospitalization.

Mary Alice

she wouldnt say what would happen if i did...

like lyn, i am on verbal contract with t against SI. I am supposed to call before I take action. We've not yet discussed suicide. I jst wrote her an email yesterday informing her that I am back in they cycle of suicide idation. She did not respond (thus it is my assumption that it is not serious).

I do hope you will take measures to keep yourself safe. If you feel you cannot, please call 911 or go to the emergency room.

Kiya

kiya she may want to talk to you in person... when is your next appointment?...lyn

halliebeth how are you doing?...lyn

Dear Kiya,

I was very much alarmed about your post. You stated you e-mailed your T yesterday-good. But, because she has not responded to your e-mail please do NOT make the assumption that she has not taken your e-mail seriously. That is not necessarily so! Lots of things happen to e-mails (as you & I both know)& to base your happiness and life on one e-mail ... is not fair to you, or her or everyone here who cares so much about you. TC sweetie.(Could you CALL her?).

i mean simply that suicide *ideation* (i am thinking) is not serious. I know that actual suicide is and t would be quite alarmed in that instance. She had suggested i go to the ER if i wanted to cut - I can only imaging the response if i told her i was suicidal (which I am not).
I did not mean to alarm anyone so!

Thanks for the clarification Kiya!!!!

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HALLIEBETH87 said:
Anyones T ever had you write and sign a no-suicide contract? What were the terms and what happens if you still take suicidal actions?

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I did not have to sign anything. But I had to agree that if I had serious intentions to commit suicide I would goto the ER.

She would not work with me unless I agreed to this.

She was very concerned about this issue and we have discussed it several times. (I felt like she lost a client and might be afraid to lose another)

This type of "contract" is really to help you keep safe, and put the control for safety into your own hands.

For some, whether for suicide or other self harm, it can be made once and continued as an ongoing agreement.

For others, who are in the throes of ideation, it might only be for a few days or a week, until the next therapy session when it will be discussed again and a new contract made.

It can have whatever provisions that you both agree upon. (You being T and you.) Some therapists can ask that you call them and talk to them prior to making any other decision of action. Some don't have that capability and do ask that you go to the ER when feeling that out of control (that you can't prevent yourself.)

It might feel like the end of the world, having to do this, but it will work out for you. It's in your own best interest to make them and work hard to keep them. If you find you can't keep them then the time limit might be too long, and you may need contact more often with your T to help support you not to do anything.

hey that sounds interesting. does it work?

yes, it works... even though at times it feels really uncomfortable and overwhelming... it also makes me feel safe... just knowing that he wants me to call him before i cut... has stopped me from cutting on several occasions... lyn

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bchlyn said:
kiya she may want to talk to you in person... when is your next appointment?...lyn

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not until wed. it used to be mondays... so now i have to wait two extra days..... *cries*

in a way wed is better...you won't get all the monday holidays... lyn

true.
sooooo i have to keep with my no-cutting pact with t and write down the reasons that my body is sounding the alarm to cut.... so here they be;
saw the dr
have to have blood drawn
tried to get help for mom
have choir tonight
mom is out of the house for the night
body has a lot of pain in it, so i rubbed in body oil - can be a trigger

i am working in a book in a section on cutting and noticing alarms. i also already called t (message) and told her the above things. so! we'll see how it goes, eh?

good job on your homework...for me right now my life is crashing around and being hit financially from all sides.. but my biggest trigger are these new flashbacks and memories...i am finding myself wanting to isolate... and the urge to hide in my closet has been really strong... not sure what that is about.... ...right now the urges are really strong... lyn

hey - i thought we said the closet is scarier than the reality?

may you fair better than i - bad will won out. so i'm gonna pour my energy into you - may you get through this night. light to you, and peace to your mind.

ok - past getting concerned... are you out there? Did you act on this thread question of yours? What's going on with you? Are you ok?

=( Kiya

thanks for caring... your right the closet isn't a safe place... but sometimes it's all i know... lyn