CIP 8 Psychosocial Strategies and Referral A Case Study Case #1: An athlete comes into the athletic training

g room and says, Im going to kill myself, in a joking tone. He is laughing and smiling as he says this. Do you take him seriously? What do you do? The Response: Every instance where there is a potential for self-harm needs to be taken seriously. It does not matter if the athlete is laughing or dead serious; there needs to be a conversation between the athlete and the athletic trainer. This can be done later that day, away from friends and in a private setting. I would pull them aside and speak to them about it. I would ask if they meant anything by it, and that suicide is not a joking matter. If it were actually a joke, I would inform them that it was a poor choice of words, and that suicide is not a joke. I would ask them not to use phrases like that in the future. However, if they were serious, it was most likely a cry for help, and as a healthcare professional, I cannot let it slide by as if it were nothing. If I brush it off as a joke and they were to commit suicide the next day, I cant justify my inaction by saying Oh, I thought they were kidding. Sometimes these difficult conversations need to take place, even if its just to get a sense of the athletes mental health state. I can refer the athlete to someone more specialized in mental health, such as the team doctor, team psychologist, or an on-campus counseling service. Case #2: An athlete comes into the football locker room and shoots himself, in front of teammates and coaches, before practice one day. What do you do? The Response: Initial response has to include crowd control, and calling EMS, the team doctor, and the head athletic trainer if not already present. Those that are in the locker room need to be removed from the scene and put somewhere else together until the situation is under control. I would send them to their team meeting rooms because its close by, and also the team and thus the news of what just happened is contained for the time being. EMS and the team physician need to be informed so the scene can be cleared, and the doctor is updated on what has happened. Once EMS has arrived and done their job, I would begin working with the team doctor on a plan of action for the rest of the team, particularly those that witnessed the incident. Group counseling and individualized sessions may be necessary for those who saw the incident, or were close friends to the victim. These individuals should be monitored, and possibly required to see the team psychologist at least once following the incident.