Responding to Suicidal Ideation in Play Therapy


| EMILY C. BROWN, PHD, LPC, RPT-S, NCC S


 for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021b). Although suicide completion is rare among young children, suicidal


ideation is a more common symptom of distress. According to the CDC (2021a), suicide is listed as the eighth leading cause of death for children   are twice as high as their White peers (CDC, 2021a), and LGBT youth           seriously about attempting or completing suicide (Lindsey et al., 2019). Therefore, play therapists need to be ready to respond to crises involving suicidal ideation and intent.


 suicide reveals several differences in characteristics and circumstances          problems with family or friends (e.g., arguments) prior to suicide than early adolescents. For children with known mental health problems,


24 | PLAYTHERAPY | September 2021 | www.a4pt.org


young children were more likely than early adolescents to have attention-     more young children died by hanging, strangulation, or suffocation than  suicide method for both age groups. Finally, young children who died by suicide were more commonly male, Black, and died at home than early    suicide prevention and intervention with young children, particularly for those exhibiting impulsivity. Play therapists should be aware of these differences to provide targeted suicide screening, assessment, and intervention.


Guidelines for Suicide Screening and Assessment


Play therapists use their mental health training in suicide risk assessment and intervention to ensure the safety of all clients. Throughout the process, play therapists should be conscious of how culture affects the expression of suicidal thoughts, intent, and plans (Chu et al., 2010). Play therapists can use the following guidelines when addressing suicidal ideation.


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