Several years ago I worked regularly with maximum-security female inmates. I had never really (knowingly) been around violent women prior to that, and it was an eye-opening experience for me.
I worked with many women who had killed their significant others as well as others who had been convicted of lesser but still violent offenses. I realized that while men are statistically more likely to be violent than women, it is definitely a naive and sexist view to assume that women are not violent.
Stalking is simply an extension of the violent potential of women. Women account for approximately 15-20% of stalkers. Statistically, female stalkers are most likely to be single and in their mid-30’s. They typically Read more…
Suicide is an absolutely horrible phenomenon. It destroys families and forever leaves survivors on an elusive search for why it happened. Suicide is often viewed as a very selfish act, yet I believe that in many cases those who do it truly cannot endure the emotional pain any longer and believe that they are out of options. When I was a young adult, an extended family member committed suicide. During my career I have lost a small number of patients to suicide as well. These were all very tragic experiences.
In the United States, mental health professionals have a legal responsibility to take action when our patients appear to be at risk for harming themselves. It is not possible for us to accurately predict when a person is going to commit suicide, but we are expected to assess for and document suicide risk factors. If necessary, we may have to call police or take other action to have patients involuntarily admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit. Read more…
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