Talking w/ Therapist

[Deathsrelease]

I have a question: if you tell a therapist, social worker, or any other medical professional that you are experiencing suicidal ideation, do they have the legal obligation to send you for hospitalization?

I've been hospitalized before for SI, and I don't want to be hospitalized again. I hate it. But I also would like to be completely honest with someone.

I live in the U.S.

 

[DyingToCTB]

If you admit to having a plan, they will.

 

[About_to_Go]

They have an obligation to if they think you're an immediate harm to yourself or others. I always say that I have thoughts of suicide, but no plans.

 

[DepressionsAHo]

I have a question: if you tell a therapist, social worker, or any other medical professional that you are experiencing suicidal ideation, do they have the legal obligation to send you for hospitalization?

I've been hospitalized before for SI, and I don't want to be hospitalized again. I hate it. But I also would like to be completely honest with someone.

I live in the U.S.

They are required to tell someone by law if they believe you are a harm to yourself. It depends on how you phrase the sentence I suppose

 

[Deathsrelease]

They have an obligation to if they think you're an immediate harm to yourself or others. I always say that I have thoughts of suicide, but no plans.

So just saying I have thoughts should be fine right?

 

[felix]

I said I had a plan told her I wanted to jump off a bridge with a noose around my neck. She didn't do anything. Also said I felt like slicing my neck open on a different occasion

 

[About_to_Go]

So just saying I have thoughts should be fine right?

It should be fine, yes.

 

[Deathsrelease]

I said I had a plan told her I wanted to jump off a bridge with a noose around my neck. She didn't do anything. Also said I felt like slicing my neck open on a different occasion

Really. Hmm. I wonder why that didn't raise a flag for her?

 

[Deathsrelease]

It should be fine, yes.

OK. Thanks for the response.

 

[Jen Erik]

So just saying I have thoughts should be fine right?

And emphasizing that you have no immediate plan, that's the more important part.

Some clinicians are prone to hysteria and will overreact when trying to interpret what "I'm just having suicidal thoughts" might mean.

 

[TAW122]

I would not mention anything like that to a therapist because in the past, when I have seen a few therapists before, even the mentioning of getting back at someone resulted in the therapist pressing me for more questions and wanting to know more details, including a question of "do you own a firearm" which I answered "no" (at that time I did not even own a firearm). Also, I made it clear that I have no plans of harming others nor myself.

Another therapist (many years ago) also asked similar questions to me, even without mentioning suicide or death.

In short, I don't think it is a good idea to skirt this grey line, it is simply too risky and every time you skirt it, you gamble with the risk of a therapist, counselor, or healthcare professional freaking out and overreacting, resulting in a series of shitty consequences.

 

[Cookiedough8956]

I think only if u have a plan.
Perhaps if they see you're very serious as well.

 

[Made4TV]

I agree with everyone else. At least here in the US you have to have a fairly immediately actionable plan. So if you say "I'm suicidal but don't have a plan" that is usually enough to keep you out of the psych ward or other intervention. If they ask you "can you keep yourself safe" - if you want to stay out of the hospital or similar, say that you can. Tell them you will contact them (or crisis line, etc) if that changes. After that you can usually tell them whatever (unless, you know, you're like...detailing a plan) :)

 

[dysfunctional]

They have to believe you're at imminent risk of executing your plan. I seems to take alot honestly. Like you'd have to really tell them "i'm definitely going to shoot myself tonight, no doubt". I've talked alot about wanting to kill myself and that i had a plan, they never kept me.

 

[Dog Food]

You can even talk about your plan if you do it hypothetically or about a friend. I don't think they can legally keep you inpatient if you do that, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Redt2go]

You can even talk about your plan if you do it hypothetically or about a friend. I don't think they can legally keep you inpatient if you do that, correct me if I'm wrong.

No clue, I'm not risking it

 

[JJ-NOHOPE]

Be very very careful.
I was recently put into a psych ward against my wishes because of some self harm (cuts on arm) and because they thought I was suicidal. This was done by my GP, and I am in the USA.

They had to let me go the next morning because legally they didn't have a leg to stand on.

But it was a horrible experience. They take all your rights away. I had less rights than if I had shot someone in the head. I wasn't even allowed one phone call.

Don't fuck around with it. Be very careful even talking about suicidal ideation.

 

[Meretlein]

Be very very careful.
I was recently put into a psych ward against my wishes because of some self harm (cuts on arm) and because they thought I was suicidal. This was done by my GP, and I am in the USA.

They had to let me go the next morning because legally they didn't have a leg to stand on.

But it was a horrible experience. They take all your rights away. I had less rights than if I had shot someone in the head. I wasn't even allowed one phone call.

Don't fuck around with it. Be very careful even talking about suicidal ideation.

Honestly dealing with those people is like sticking your hand in a crocodile's mouth. Once they clamp down on you it is impossible to escape, unless they choose to let you go. I now choose not to go near any crocodiles.

 

[ForestLove]

I always tell them I'm suicidal but of no plans.

However, I had one therapist who saw the hopelessness in me wanted to contact my family members. I said, "No". Then I never heard from her again.

I also had a Dr who asked me, "Is there anything else I can help you?" I replied, "Do you have meds for (I was pointing to my heart)?" He jus sighed.

Hopeless case. What to do?

 

[Cookiedough8956]

Be very very careful.
I was recently put into a psych ward against my wishes because of some self harm (cuts on arm) and because they thought I was suicidal. This was done by my GP, and I am in the USA.

They had to let me go the next morning because legally they didn't have a leg to stand on.

But it was a horrible experience. They take all your rights away. I had less rights than if I had shot someone in the head. I wasn't even allowed one phone call.

Don't fuck around with it. Be very careful even talking about suicidal ideation.

This is why i had to stop cutting. Im afraid my doctor, without telling me, is gonna pull up the wrong sleeve.
I just bruise myself now

 

[AveryConure]

It also sometimes depends on your doctor/therapist. My therapist is actually not a big fan of putting people in the hospital unless they're like extremely psychotic and etc. My doctor I had to say the whole "I'm suicidal/don't have a plan/can keep myself safe" spiel cause she always seems to want to throw me in there for 3 days and wonder why I still feel the same.

 

[TAW122]

Yeah I agree with @Redt2go, @JJ-NOHOPE, and @Meretlein that it is simply too risky and @Meretlein gave a good analogy. I have my means to exit and I'm just giving myself one chance in a week or so before I decide whether or not I will continue to live or die in the coming months.