Reflections from the Classroom: On "Engagement", Safety and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
A few weeks ago I was invited to speak with a group of AMHPs in Manchester about conversations around suicide and self-harm within Mental Health Act assessments. As usual, the most useful part came out of discussions. The discussion moved quickly away from legislation and process and into the uncomfortable, complicated reality of practice. One…
When Asking Creates Risk: A Reflection on Suicide-Related Internet Use in Assessment
During a recent suicide prevention training session, a participant posed a question that has stayed with me: “If we ask people about suicide-related internet use, could we actually be introducing the idea—especially if they hadn’t thought about it before?” It is a question that sits in quiet tension with current guidance—and one that warrants careful,…
When the Therapist Becomes the Patient: Workforce Suicide Risk in Mental Health Services
I recently undertook a Mental Health Act assessment of a man presenting with self-injurious behaviour and persistent suicidal ideation. The clinical risks were significant, but not atypical of frontline mental health practice. What was striking, however, was that he was himself a therapist—an experienced member of the mental health workforce. This encounter reflects an increasingly…
When the Weekend Comes: Reflections from the Frontline
There are cases that stay with you long after the paperwork is complete. For me, one involves a man in his forties who had not previously needed mental health support. There was no diagnosis or history with services, only a sudden and distressing change that left his wife frightened and searching for help. While on…