Guide :: Abuse :: Suicide Threat :: Responsibilites
What are my responsibilities to report a suicide threat?
As a researcher, you do not have specific legal responsibilities for reporting a suicide threat. However, you should consider the well-being of your participants and act in their best interests, as stated in the Belmont Report. Often these situations are delicate and require experienced clinicians to council the participant. If you do not have certified experience in helping a suicidal individual, do not council your participant or become involved in the situation. Inappropriate action may put the participant at greater risk. As you are working with an adult, the more appropriate step may be to refer the participant to resources that can help them, such as a hotline or mental health clinic (as the situation warrants) instead of simply calling the police. However, if you become aware of a specific and immediate threat of harm to your participant, you should contact the appropriate authorities.
If you are working in a public school system, there is specific protocol for reporting suicidal behavior. Please see the Education: Abuse section for more information.
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