Fall is coming upon us! Every month is designated as an awareness month for one (or many) causes. September is National Suicide Prevention month and includes Suicide Prevention Week of September 10 – 16, 2017. This is an important topic for social workers and other helpers.
People are complicated. As a social worker, you are often working with individuals in immense emotional and often physical pain. One of the best aspects of being a social worker is when you help someone heal. Other times, a client can have difficulty moving out of their pain. It can be scary for a social worker (new or experienced) to have a client indicate they are going to irrevocably harm themselves. I know a lot of therapists who say they don’t take clients who are at high risk of suicide but anyone you work with may be at risk. It is essential, to be willing to be aware that suicide might be a risk.
