SAD PERSONS Assessment

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The first steps that I would take would include assessing whether each client were displaying characteristics of normal, acute, or chronic risk factors, as discussed by Jackson-Cherry and Erford (2013), while employing microskills that show attention, concern, and empathy in relating to the client. I would be sure to keep a calm tone, stay away from asking too many questions following one another, and use reflecting and paraphrasing to get clarity and understanding from the client. A risk assessment can be done in the process, and I would be able to better know how to move forward with each client to gain more information to better serve their needs. For example, John seems to be experiencing long-term distress from his deployment experience, …show more content…

Since both have significant others, while John also has a newborn and Jane the support from colleagues, they both have an increased chance of being deterred from completing suicide (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2013). Using an assessment like SAD PERSONS, would add more information for me to work with to determine if the client would need to be recommended or sent to the hospital for care (Warden, Spiwak, Sareen, & Bolton, 2014). The SAD PERSONS assessment would include identifying if the client suicide ideation, plans or behavior to follow through with suicide, as well as identifying warning signs for imminent risk (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, …show more content…

Outpatient care has proved to be effective with individuals suffering with PTSD and depression through cognitive processing therapy (Campbell, Felker, Liu, Yano, Kirchner, Chan, & ... Chaney, 2007). Although inpatient care could also benefit John, taking him away from his only protective factors (wife and newborn baby) could prove to be more detrimental to his fragile state. As best practice, I would be sure to follow up with John and provide resources, therapeutic support, and other information for his care as

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