CLEE Crisis Intervention and Suicidality 3

Question 1

Under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, 'gravely disabled' refers to a person who:

Accepted Answer

Is unable to provide for their basic personal needs—food, clothing, or shelter—due to a mental disorder

Answer

Has a permanent physical disability requiring round-the-clock medical care

Answer

Has been formally declared incompetent by a court of law

Answer

Requires assistance with all activities of daily living regardless of cause

Question 2

A California therapist receives a call from an adult client's parent expressing concern that the client is suicidal. The therapist's BEST response is to:

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the parent's concern and encourage them to call 911 if the client is in immediate danger, without confirming or denying the therapeutic relationship

Answer

Share all treatment information with the parent to coordinate care and protect the client

Answer

Contact the client's insurance company to arrange crisis services on the parent's behalf

Answer

Refer the parent directly to the client's primary care physician

Question 3

Which protective factor is most strongly associated with reduced suicide risk in the research literature?

Accepted Answer

Strong social support and identified reasons for living

Answer

High intelligence and advanced educational attainment

Answer

Prior experience in psychotherapy or counseling

Answer

Religious affiliation considered independently of other factors

Question 4

A therapist's client discloses they are a licensed gun owner and has been experiencing suicidal thoughts. Under best-practice guidelines applicable in California, the therapist should:

Accepted Answer

Incorporate means restriction counseling—such as advising the client to have someone else safely store the firearms—into the safety plan

Answer

Report the client to law enforcement because gun ownership combined with suicidal ideation is automatically a 5150 criteria

Answer

Contact the DOJ to initiate firearms confiscation proceedings immediately

Answer

Avoid discussing firearms entirely due to Second Amendment considerations

Question 5

When does the Tarasoff duty to warn or protect NOT apply?

Accepted Answer

When the threat is nonspecific, vague, or the potential victim is not identifiable

Answer

When the client has an established history of prior violent behavior

Answer

When the client is themselves a licensed mandated reporter

Answer

When the client verbally denies any intent to harm another person

Question 6

A therapist is working with a client who has made two previous suicide attempts and is currently expressing passive suicidal ideation ('I wish I were dead') but denies any plan. The most clinically appropriate response is to:

Accepted Answer

Conduct a comprehensive risk assessment including both risk and protective factors, and document clinical reasoning

Answer

Discharge the client since they do not meet the immediate criteria for crisis intervention

Answer

Initiate a 5150 hold immediately given the history of prior attempts

Answer

Refer the client to a higher level of care without further individual assessment

Question 7

Under California law and professional ethics standards, when determining whether to hospitalize a high-risk suicidal client, therapists should primarily follow which guiding principle?

Accepted Answer

Use the least restrictive intervention that adequately addresses the client's safety needs

Answer

'When in doubt, hospitalize'—to avoid any risk of malpractice liability

Answer

Always defer entirely to the client's stated preference regarding hospitalization

Answer

Consult with the client's insurance company before authorizing any hospitalization