Losing a loved one is an extremely difficult experience for anyone. However, when a person takes their own life, family members are left even more confused, hurt, and sometimes even angry. It is not uncommon for family members to wonder how such a thing could occur, or if there was any way they could have prevented it. Sadly, when a family member is considering harming themselves, there is little their loved ones can do. Still, there are certain individuals who can help individuals with their depression and stop them from taking their own life.
Medical professionals are expected to care for a person’s overall health, including their mental and physical conditions. When medical providers do not offer the high quality of care expected of them, people can become seriously hurt. In the case of mental health, improper care can cause someone to take their own life. If you have lost someone, our Jacksonville preventable suicide lawyer can help.
The Role of Suicide Risk Assessment
One of the first questions in cases regarding preventable suicides is whether a risk assessment was performed. Suicide risk assessments are a checklist of potential areas of emotional crisis and stress and they are filled out by a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse.
One of the biggest risk factors in a suicide risk assessment is any past attempts at suicide. When a person has tried to commit suicide in the past, particularly within the last year, they are at a much higher risk of taking their own lives. Substance abuse issues, marital or custody conflicts, and even gender are all additional factors that increase a person’s risk of suicide. For example, while women are more likely to try and commit suicide, they generally try non-lethal methods, such as taking too many prescription pills. Men are more likely to use more lethal methods, such as using a firearm on themselves and so, the rate of suicide in men is higher.
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How Can Mental Health Professionals Prevent Suicide?
There are a number of ways health professionals can prevent suicide. The first is to ensure a complete suicide risk assessment is conducted. Mental health practitioners should also make every attempt to collect additional information about the patient from their family members, law enforcement, or other mental health providers.
When a patient is considered to be at high risk of committing suicide, mental health professionals must take the appropriate actions to prevent it from happening. Typically, this means mental health professionals must involuntarily commit the patient to a mental health facility, which is allowed in Florida under the Baker Act.
Our Preventable Suicide Lawyer in Jacksonville Can Help You Collect Damages
If someone you love has taken their own life and you believe a medical professional could have stopped it from happening, you may be able to collect damages. At Freidin Brown, P.A., our Jacksonville preventable suicide lawyer can advise on the compensation you are eligible to receive, and help you obtain the fair settlement you deserve. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.