No to No-Suicide Contracts

Reviews the book, Suicide Prevention Contracting: The Pitfalls, Perils, and Seven Safer Alternatives by Stephen J. Edwards and Christopher Goj (see record 2014-00088-000). The aim of this book is commendable: to caution mental health professionals against unthinkingly using no‐suicide contracts. The authors firmly believe that no‐suicide contracts are unhelpful, actually compromising treatment because, rather than reinforcing the clinician–client relationship, they erode the empathy and compassion that clinicians offer clients. Thus, this book not only condemns no‐suicide contracts as unhelpful but also warns that such contracts may go so far as to cause harm. The book is designed to appeal to mental health professionals. The 10 chapters include a personal journal, history, definitions, some topics that seem to overlap, and seven alternatives to no‐suicide contracts. These include safety planning, safety agreements, commitment to treatment statements, and alliances for safety. Overall, rather than being read through, this book might be most useful as a reference for clinicians, with sections to be read as needed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)