This is why no-damage contracts have been disgraced over time. There is no evidence that they work. They can even give you a false sense of security. They show that you have seen the need to intervene to reduce the risk of suicide, and that you have not done much to intervene. Legal experts have expressed concern that this could open therapists to legal liability if a client dies by suicide and the family files a complaint or complaint. And if the individual doesn`t want to sign it or doesn`t like the idea of a contract, then you can verbally agree on what the person should do if he becomes suicidal. If you can write a list of phone numbers together, this would definitely be a positive step. Make sure the person lists the numbers in an accessible location. A non-damage contract is not a contract in a legally enforceable sense.

If this client was indeed injured, it is not as if my agency is going to sue the client for breach of contract. There is no way to stick usefully to someone. Try again to get some kind of agreement on what the person will do if they are suicidal, and try to make sure that the person commits that they will not die under any circumstances by suicide. Ideally, this will be done with a non-suicide contract; If not, try to get the phone numbers on paper and get a verbal understanding of what needs to be done if the person is suicidal. It seemed like the simplest thing. A few years ago, one of my clients had thought a little about suicide, but with no plan or intention. They would be considered far too low risk for hospitalizations or other crisis services. But I was so worried that I didn`t want to send it without doing anything. So we signed a contract without damages. Please note that no-suicide contracts are not legal documents; These are agreements that open the cause of what a person must do when he becomes suicidal.

Damage contracts involve an often signed obligation on the client to do nothing before a specific date to harm himself or someone else. Often, this date is the next time the client and therapist meet, so that the client can be reassessed and the contract can be reviewed and renewed if necessary. Some non-injury contracts include certain steps the customer should take before participating in harmful behaviours. The first and most important part of non-suicide contracts is the clear agreement that the person signing the contract will not die by suicide. Next, the next section lists the names and phone numbers a person should call if they become suicidal. However, what a contract does not entail is that I believed in writing that the client posed a certain risk to himself. And that after understanding this risk and seeing the need to intervene, I simply took the client at the word that they were fine. Once the agreement is reached, both parties will sign and conclude the contract.

And most importantly, make sure the individual accepts that he or she will not die in any case of suicide. To learn more about safety planning, current research and more, you can participate in our 6-hour suicide prevention, assessment and intervention training course at SimplePractice Learning. Unlike traditional treaties, which can be long, complex and filled with abstract and legal treaties, non-suicide contracts must be very short and easy to understand. Anything that is not necessary should not be included in the treaty.