Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Addressing Suicidality.

Abstract

Suicidal ideation (SI) is a complex phenomenon occurring across populations and is especially prevalent among patients with serious illness. Palliative care (PC) clinicians often care for patients at elevated risk for SI and are well positioned to identify and respond to suicidality. Clinical encounters may require distinguishing passive wishes for death from active suicidal intent, addressing modifiable sources of suffering, and supporting patients and families through emotionally complex conversations. Practical, evidence-informed guidance can help clinicians approach these encounters with greater clarity and confidence. In this article, an interdisciplinary group of PC, psychiatry, psychology, social work, and chaplaincy clinicians shares ten tips for caring for patients with serious illness who experience SI.