ContinuingEdCourses.Net-Test

Courses for Mental Health Professionals

Suicide Assessment for Clinicians: A Strengths-Based Model - Test
by John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.

Please note that printing this page does not constitute proof of completion of the course. After successfully completing this test, you may purchase your Certificate of Completion and print it immediately, print it later, or have it mailed to you.

Back to Course

NOTE: If you click Help, the course material is displayed in a new tab for your reference. You may switch back and forth between the course tab and this test tab.

1. Which of the following is NOT one of the self-care strategies for clinicians to manage stress when working with suicidal clients?	Help
Set reasonable goals and then cut yourself some slack. Use recreational substances for self-soothing. Focus on your family, community, and neighbors. Utilize a variety of self-care strategies.

2. Which of the following is a suicide myth?	Help
Suicidal thoughts are about death and dying. Suicide is a low base rate behavior and therefore very difficult to predict. Many individuals who think about suicide are probably not suffering from a mental disorder. There are several psychotherapies that appear effective in reducing suicidality.

3. Marcy is repeatedly cutting herself (self-harm). Which statement is true about her suicide risk?	Help
Her risk is low because cutting is a bid for attention. Her risk is high because she is willing to hurt herself. The therapist should conduct an assessment interview with Marcy to better understand the purpose of her cutting and gather additional individualized information. Marcy should be hospitalized.

4. Which of these is nearly always a general protective factor linked to lower suicide risk?	Help
The presence of social support Prescription of an SSRI antidepressant Alcohol use Living alone

5. Bonnie is a male-to-female transgender adult. Which of the following factors is most likely to be a protective factor against suicide?	Help
Alcohol use Religious affiliation Coming out or disclosing her transgender identity Physical exercise

6. The acronym IS PATH WARM was designed to help clinicians remember which of the following?	Help
Suicide risk factors Suicide protective factors Suicide warning signs Components of a suicide assessment interview

7. How can clinicians show sensitivity to cultural factors that affect how clients experience and express suicidality?	Help
Express sympathy for clients who are members of cultural minority groups. Gather knowledge about specific minority groups and ask questions that may be relevant and meaningful to clients from those groups. Treat all clients with the same sensitivity and ask all clients the same questions. Use person-centered approaches, letting clients lead.

8. Which of the following factors did Edwin Shneidman posit as probably the central issue in death by suicide?	Help
Psychache or unbearable distress Unemployment or lack of meaning in life Insomnia, chronic illness, or desensitization Problems with sexual identity

9. According to Joiner's interpersonal theory of suicide, factors such as unemployment, divorce, and widowhood might increase an individual's suicide potential because they:	Help
Are socially embarrassing events. Result in a downward spiral of self-blame and depression. Result in a diminished sense of belongingness and a self-perception of being a burden to others. Result in feelings of hopelessness and a lack of self-worth.

10. Using a constructive approach to a suicide assessment interview means that you will do which of the following?

Help

Adopt a strong medical model orientation.
Move away from a focus on illness-based weaknesses, deficits, and limitations, focusing instead on strengths and resources.
Avoid using any and all formal assessment protocols because all assessment protocols are necessarily reductionistic and not conducive to treatment effectiveness.
Shift to a focus on using paradox, amplified reflection, and reactance theory.

11. Based on the constructive model, when conducting suicide assessments, you should primarily focus on:	Help
Looking for signs of psychopathology. Determining the correct psychiatric diagnosis. Referring clients who are suicidal to a physician for medication. None of the above.

12. Instead of the traditional no-suicide contracts, contemporary approaches to suicide intervention emphasize:	Help
Commitment to individualized treatment or safety plans. Medication. Hospitalization. None of the above.

13. Which of these is an example of a normalizing frame?	Help
"I've read that up to 50% of teenagers have thought about suicide. Is that true for you?" "When was the last time you had thoughts about suicide?" "Have you been thinking about suicide recently?" "Please rate your mood right now, using a zero to 10 scale."

14. Which of these is an example of gentle assumption?	Help
"I've read that up to 50% of teenagers have thought about suicide. Is that true for you?" "When was the last time you had thoughts about suicide?" "Have you been thinking about suicide recently?" "Please rate your mood right now, using a zero to 10 scale"

15. The acronym SLAP provides an easy way to remember four areas of inquiry into a client's:	Help
Suicidal ideation. Suicide plan. Suicide risk factors. Self-control.

16. Dan's client admits to having suicidal thoughts. The next step for Dan would be to:	Help
Call 9-1-1. Empathically validate and normalize his client's disclosure. Ask the client who would be a good person to contact about this information. Recommend antidepressant medications.

17. The DSM-5-TR includes a new:	Help
Diagnosis for 'Suicidality Syndrome.' Symptom code for 'non-suicidal self-injury.' Symptom code for 'suicidal behavior.' Both 2 and 3

18. Which of these suicide risk factors have been shown to be especially salient to clinical decision-making?	Help
Two or more previous attempts Command hallucinations Severe depression with extreme agitation All of the above

Suicide Assessment for Clinicians: A Strengths-Based Model - Test by John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.

Suicide Assessment for Clinicians: A Strengths-Based Model - Test
by John Sommers-Flanagan, Ph.D.