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years on the subject of preventing suicide, for the most up-to-date equipment so as family secret as taboo.
which has proven that idea wrong.1 to reduce the possibility of side effects.
Namely, intervening early when the possi- In summary, is there anything you want
bility of suicidal thoughts exists has What can one say to someone contem- to emphasize concerning suicide in the
proven to reduce the risk of suicide. Other plating ending their life? religious community?
interventions that have proven to be effec- MB:Many people think that they are a MB: Like all other aspects of mental
tive include 1) ascertaining and restricting burden on their close friends, family, or health, being ashamed, stigmatized, and
access to lethal means (such as prevent- society in general because of their mental silent about problems only makes matters
ing access to weapons and drugs at home, or physical illness, or any other trouble worse rather than better. Suicidality is a
preventing access to high buildings and that they may be having. Therefore, they part of mental illness, and therefore can
bridges), 2) pharmacological interven- often contemplate suicide, at least in part often be treated and prevented if we are
tions, which entails psychiatric diagnosis as being beneficent to those around them vigilant enough in recognizing it.
and treatment of psychiatric illnesses, by relieving that burden. These people Halachic authorities today recognize the
such as depression, 3) psychotherapies must understand that their potential sui- importance of psychiatric intervention
such as CBT and DBT, and 4) school- cidal death inflicts much worse suffering and rule that, in many cases, mental ill-
based mental health and suicide aware- on their loved ones, as it is very difficult ness is a matter of pikuach nefesh, just
ness programs. All these proved signifi- for families to cope after losing a loved like any other medical emergency.
cantly helpful in preventing suicide. Also one to suicide.
showing some evidence of effectiveness is Suicide awareness and prevention ini-
“gatekeeper” training, where people such How can families cope after a suicide? tiatives are helping many communities,
as school staff, general medical doctors, MB: The best way found until now to and there is no reason why the Orthodox
and crisis hotline workers are taught to help families who lose a member to sui- Jewish community can’t do the same. If
listen to at-risk individuals and refer them cide is group and family therapy. Evidence the community is not open about the
to proper therapy. It should be noted that has show that suicides that were not issue, it will be only more difficult to help
electroconvulsive therapy provides a rapid worked through in therapy led many families who are affected by it.◆
relief of suicidal thoughts, and our hospi- times to additional family members con-
tal has just received a generous donation templating suicide because of the accu- 1 Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year
from an Orthodox foundation in the U.S. mulating stress and misery of keeping the
systematic Review, Zalsman et al, The Lancet
Psychiatry, Volume 3, No. 7, p 646–659, July 2016
80 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
which has proven that idea wrong.1 to reduce the possibility of side effects.
Namely, intervening early when the possi- In summary, is there anything you want
bility of suicidal thoughts exists has What can one say to someone contem- to emphasize concerning suicide in the
proven to reduce the risk of suicide. Other plating ending their life? religious community?
interventions that have proven to be effec- MB:Many people think that they are a MB: Like all other aspects of mental
tive include 1) ascertaining and restricting burden on their close friends, family, or health, being ashamed, stigmatized, and
access to lethal means (such as prevent- society in general because of their mental silent about problems only makes matters
ing access to weapons and drugs at home, or physical illness, or any other trouble worse rather than better. Suicidality is a
preventing access to high buildings and that they may be having. Therefore, they part of mental illness, and therefore can
bridges), 2) pharmacological interven- often contemplate suicide, at least in part often be treated and prevented if we are
tions, which entails psychiatric diagnosis as being beneficent to those around them vigilant enough in recognizing it.
and treatment of psychiatric illnesses, by relieving that burden. These people Halachic authorities today recognize the
such as depression, 3) psychotherapies must understand that their potential sui- importance of psychiatric intervention
such as CBT and DBT, and 4) school- cidal death inflicts much worse suffering and rule that, in many cases, mental ill-
based mental health and suicide aware- on their loved ones, as it is very difficult ness is a matter of pikuach nefesh, just
ness programs. All these proved signifi- for families to cope after losing a loved like any other medical emergency.
cantly helpful in preventing suicide. Also one to suicide.
showing some evidence of effectiveness is Suicide awareness and prevention ini-
“gatekeeper” training, where people such How can families cope after a suicide? tiatives are helping many communities,
as school staff, general medical doctors, MB: The best way found until now to and there is no reason why the Orthodox
and crisis hotline workers are taught to help families who lose a member to sui- Jewish community can’t do the same. If
listen to at-risk individuals and refer them cide is group and family therapy. Evidence the community is not open about the
to proper therapy. It should be noted that has show that suicides that were not issue, it will be only more difficult to help
electroconvulsive therapy provides a rapid worked through in therapy led many families who are affected by it.◆
relief of suicidal thoughts, and our hospi- times to additional family members con-
tal has just received a generous donation templating suicide because of the accu- 1 Suicide prevention strategies revisited: 10-year
from an Orthodox foundation in the U.S. mulating stress and misery of keeping the
systematic Review, Zalsman et al, The Lancet
Psychiatry, Volume 3, No. 7, p 646–659, July 2016
80 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
