I was looking at my bookshelves and found the copy of the book, “The Suicidal Crisis: Clinical Guide to the Assessment of Imminent Suicide Risk.” It was written by Dr. Igor Galynker. It’s a fit topic for this month because September is National Suicide Prevention Month.
This brings back memories. I still have a gift from Dr. Galynker. It’s a stuffed animal called Bumpy the Bipolar Bear.
It arrived at my office at The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in 2011. It was in a box addressed to:
WordPress
Attn: James Amos
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
I’m still not entirely sure why he sent me Bumpy. There was no letter of explanation. I was writing a blog at the time called “The Practical Psychosomaticist” and I might have posted something about some research he published on suicide risk assessment.
I bought a copy of his book a few years ago. I barely had time to skim a few of the chapters because I was too busy conducting suicide risk assessments in the emergency room, the general hospital, and the clinics in my role as a psychiatric consultant. In fact, I think it’s an excellent resource.
I also found a YouTube video (posted about a month ago) in which he describes his suicide crisis syndrome assessment. You can find the actual set of questions for the assessment here and in a link posted in the description below the YouTube.
Go Retire Psychiatrist 