Chapter 21: Community Mental Health

You are a school nurse in a middle school when Jamal comes to the nurse’s office requesting medication for a headache. You notice that his eyes are red, and it appears as if he has been crying. You ask if he is hurt, but he denies it. The phone rings in the office, and a teacher tells you that a female student has approached her concerned about Jamal. The teacher tells you that Jamal sent her a text message saying that he flunked his biology examination and wished he was dead.

1. If Jamal shared with you a suicide plan that includes harming himself with a weapon, what would be your first nursing intervention?

2. What educational program would you develop for the middle school to educate students about ways to cope with stress and how to respond if a friend needs support?

Follow the discussion questions participation and submission guidelines.

· Follow the 3 x 3 rule: minimum three paragraphs per DQ, with a minimum of three sentences each paragraph.

· All answers or discussions comments submitted must be in APA format according to Publication Manual American Psychological Association (APA) (7th ed.) ISBN: 978-1-4338-3216-1

Answer preview

Children and adults are vulnerable to suicidal attempts whenever they are faced with high-stress levels. The case of Jamal in middles school is an excellent illustration of a highly stressed child contemplating suicide. The first thing I would do as a nurse if Jamal was to share with me his suicidal plans is to create a safe environment in which he can talk about his current situation without fear. According to Odgers, Dargue, Creswell, Jones & Hudson (2020), creating a non-judgmental and supportive environment for the child and family allows facilitates openness. Such an environment will allow me to understand Jamal’s perspective and mental state. Often, suicidal thoughts have a hidden root cause which is identifiable if the counselor actively listens to the victim. Facilitating Jamal’s transparency will help me contemplate the possible practical solutions that can improve his mental health.

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