E. Suicidal (female, painful/troubling)

Note: This is one of five hypothetical direction scenarios. All actual direction sessions are confidential.

I had been seeing Patricia monthly for direction for about six months. We had spent most of the time reflecting on her desire to grow closer to God and her growing interest in ancient prayer practice. Then, unexpectedly, she came to a session looking depressed and speaking about suicide. She is not currently in therapy.

As a director in this situation, one of the challenges for me is that it is frightening to have someone speak of suicide, and I would want to “fix” the problem. I would hope to keep in mind the “Suicide Intervention Protocol” handout covered in class by Susan Phillips.[1] I would begin by assessing the severity of the suicide, first by simply reflecting back what had been said: “You’re feeling suicidal.” At a minimum, I would likely refer Patricia to a therapist, who could supplement the work we are doing in spiritual direction. In an extreme case, I would call 911, and either accompany Patricia to a hospital or have an appropriate friend or family member accompany her. Most likely, I would facilitate her calling a therapist, perhaps even at the end of the session, and follow-up with Patricia afterward by phone (with her permission), especially if our next session were not for another month.

If the talk of suicide ends, and Patricia is diagnosed with mild depression, I might invite her to experiment with “praying in nature” (or group yoga at a local health club) as a form of active praying – getting her out of the house and engaged with God and the world. Depending on her prayer life at this time, it might also be helpful to recommend Thomas Green’s When the Well Runs Dry: Prayer Beyond the Beginnings and Drinking from a Dry Well.

---

[1] Susan Phillips, “Suicide Intervention Protocol,” lecture outline (January 16, 2007).