Suicide - A Clinician's Guide

Join Jonathan Prousky, both registered Naturopathic Doctor and registered Psychotherapist, as he shares his insights into the complex management of extreme mental distress. This series of webinars on suicide opens with a  review of the statistics about suicide, covering some of the salient phenomenological aspects of suicide. Dr Prousky brings you a sensitive lens to this worrisome and extreme manifestation of mental distress, often referred to as psychache or mental pain.

The second part of the series will explore the published literature that has identified lipid abnormalities, omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiencies, abnormalities of kynurenine pathways, and lithium levels in tap water to that of suicide. This information will form the basis of a panel of biologic substrates that clinicians can evaluate, with the ultimate aim of lessening any patient’s vulnerability to completed suicide. The focus will be on specific micronutrient treatments that may be able to reduce this vulnerability. 

The final part of the series will focus on the patient and how best to evaluate and navigate the clinical complexities when a patient expresses suicidal ideation. Safety planning will also be discussed, including a structured format to ensure that all the necessary elements are considered and completed when working on treatment plans, including appropriate referrals and collaboration with the patient.