Murphy’s Law says that “anything that can go wrong will.” In primary care, Murphy’s Law seems to strike most often on a Friday afternoon. Sometimes it’s patients requesting to be seen at the last-minute or critical labs that need to be filled. Of course, everyone remembers they need refills on Fridays. One busy Friday afternoon I went in to see Karyn, a 28-year-old female with a history of depression and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). She reported feeling down with worsening depression. She explained that she and her husband were trying to have a baby, but they were having difficulty getting pregnant due to her recent diagnosis of PCOS. During the encounter she told me that her husband would be better off with someone else and that she has been thinking about killing herself. More specifically, she explains she has a bottle of sleeping pills at home, left over from a recent trip she took, and she is thinking about taking them all at once. Or sometimes, when she is driving over the bridge, she thinks about driving off.
These situations come up in primary care often, and it’s helpful to work through them ahead of time, so you can be better prepared for similar situations and be familiar with treatment options.

Initial post
Take a moment to consider how you would manage a patient with depression and acute suicidal ideation within the time constraints of a busy family practice.
In an initial post, complete the following:
Research and share one evidence-based suicide prevention strategy that can be used in primary care.
Talk to a practicing clinician (e.g., your preceptor) about their recommendations for this situation and share the takeaways.

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