If an adult attempts suicide and is taken to the hospital. Can doctors force them to talk to a therapist?

Question

For example will they order them to talk to a staff therapist before they can be discharged? If so for how long? 24-48 hours maybe? Detailed answers please :)

Answer 1

Duey is a complete idiot. They are not going to charge a person with attempted suicide, get a jury together, and then say "yep, he tried to kill himself." Can you imagine such a trial?

Well, they can't force the patient to talk, but they also have the option of renewing the mandatory hold on the patient, in effect not letting the patient go.

Without talking to a psychologist or a psychiatrist, there is no way they can determine if the person's still a danger to himself.

The end result is that, yes, there must be SOME communication with part of the psychiatric team before the patient is released.

Answer 2

In Canada if an adult attempts suicide he will be taken to the E.R.and there an ER. doctor will assess the person.If the person remains a danger to himself and others he will be placed on a form one.That means that he has to have a psychiatric evaluation by a psychiatrist within 48 hours.If at this point in time the psychiatrist deems the patient to be not suicidal he may discharge.He can also at this time deem him to be a danger to himself and others and place him on a form three.This means that he will have to remain in hospital for 2 weeks .The patient may ask for a review board(that is the patient thinks that he is held against his will ,he is not a danger to himself and others)and should be released. On the psychiatric unit the patient will have numerous professional people to help him with his depression and /or addictions.Before a "suicidal "patient is discharged ,a psychiatriist must determine if he is still suicidal.He may refer the patient to a community agency (Public Health Mental Health Nurse,as an example) This may be one of the terms of discharge.If you are a voluntary patient the doctor cannot force you to do anything.If you are a patient under a form the doctor can keep you in hospital until you have been talking to the therapist (this is a treatment) taking prescribed medication and an improvement in you mental status is evident.

Answer 3

If an adult attempts suicide, they NEED to talk to a therapist. Anyone who attempts suicide needs to talk to a therapist. But, however, a hospital cannot force a patient to do any thing they don't want to do, it comes under patients rights. But my personal opinion, they should talk to one any way, because I am bipolar, and I tried to committ suicide three times. If I hadn't of talked the third time to one, I wouldn't be here today, and wouldn't be having a full, and productive lifestyle now. I am on medications, that helps me not to get that low any more. I still think about it once in a while, but it just isn't an option any more.

Answer 4

Realize that the therapist are not there for some form of torture but a means to channel what may have brought that person to this place.

A hospital cannot force you to see a therapist but suggest the opportunity to talk with a counselor allowing opportunity to share or suggest their concerns.

Should the medical provider and counselor see there are mental health issues, extended care within the hosptial or mental health facility of various forms may be offered.

Again - this is in the best interest of the patient.

Answer 5

If the person who is admitted for attempted suicide does not cooperate with the therapist, he/she can keep the person from being discharged as this is considered still being a danger to themself. This can last until the therapist is satisfied that the patient is well enough to be released.

That is not true about being tried in a court of law, and a judge is not involved unless the person is petitioned by a family member or someone acting in this person's behalf as being incompetent by reason of insanity.

Answer 6

Yes, they can. I work in the ER, and part of my job is to coordinate these mental health evaluations. If you come in and have threatened to harm yourself or someone else, then it is our protocol to call out the crisis team, and they must evaluate you before you are discharged or transferred to another facility.

If you are admitted for an attempt, you will probably stay 24 hours in the first hospital for observation and then you will have to speak with the counselor. If it's just a threat, or minor attempt, you will only stay in the ER as long as it takes for your lab work to come back and the crisis team to come down and evaluate.

Answer 7

It may vary from state to state, but I know where I live there is a crisis team composed of mental health professionals that are called to assess the person. They decide if you are danger to self. If they assess you to be so, then you are involuntarily detained or ITA'd (Involuntary Treatment Act) from there you will be held in a psych. facility for 72 hours and then go to court, or sometimes released. If you go to court your time can be extended if you are still deemed a danger to self.

Answer 8

I think it is called 51/50 a threat to ones-self and others and legally can be detained for 48 hours.

Answer 9

It is likely. If the person has attempted suicide, that person is considered a danger to him/her self and can be forced to consult a therapist/physician and convince them he/she is no longer a danger to him/her self.

Answer 10

It depends on your states laws. In my state if an adult attempts suicide they can be committed as they are posing a threat to themselves. Until a psychiatric doctor has determined that they are no longer a threat to themselves they can be forcibly detained.