The aim of Suicide Prevention Contracting: The Pitfalls, Perils, and Seven Safer Alternatives is commendable: to caution mental health professionals against unthinkingly using nosuicide contracts. Authors Stephen J. Edwards and Christopher Goj firmly believe that nosuicide contracts are unhelpful, actually compromising treatment because, rather than reinforcing the clinician–client relationship, they erode the empathy and compassion that clinicians offer clients. Thus, ... Read morethis book not only condemns no suicide contracts as unhelpful but also warns that such contracts may go so far as to cause harm. . . .Edwards and Goj provide valid points and pull data from an impressively large sample. . . .[T]his book . . . [would] be . . . useful as a reference for clinicians.
PsycCRITIQUES
Edwards and Goj offer a comprehensive review of the research and problems related to ‘no suicide contracts.’ They offer a variety of clinically viable alternatives to help mental health professionals work with suicidal patients.
John D. Gavazzi, PsyD, private practice As Edwards and Goj show with both clinical and scholarly acumen, ‘no-suicide’ contracts are both ill-advised and distressingly common. We need alternatives—clinically useful and research supported alternatives—and these authors provide several.
Thomas Joiner, PhD, Florida State University In this era of evidence-based suicide prevention it is surprising that the ‘no-suicide’ contract has endured. This new book—the first devoted solely to the ‘no-suicide’ contract—discusses why it should not be used and suggests seven safer substitutes. The book is a must for all those who work with suicidal clients, for those who supervise them, and for those in training.
Annette Beautrais, PhD, University of Canterbury Show Less