Dr. Ridley: I might design something
service—the entry point. More importantly,
along the lines of “You have choices. You
the relationships between the many service
are not alone.” I would use your idea that we centers is not coordinated, seamless, and
have choices within our limited choices.
sometimes uncooperative with each other.
Question: Suicide prevention is a hot
Last week one of my student’s clients
topic within our schools and families. What was suicidal. The client met the criteria of
do Christians need to know to facilitate
our emergency test, and I ordered hospi-
local, state, and national efforts to reduce
talization for observation and treatment.
and/or prevent suicides?
We called the police, which is our standard
Dr. Ridley: Suicide is a solution—a
protocol. They interviewed the client and
self-destructive one. Nevertheless, it is a
determined the he was not an eminent
solution. It solves the
danger to himself. Imagine.
troublesome feeling of
Two police officers would
hopelessness. Suicide is
not heed my clinical
God’s Word is the
the 10th leading cause
judgment and that of our
of death in the United
foundation of my work. clinic director (both of
States. We are all aware
us are licensed psycholo-
of the recent high profile
gists). I had to make other
cases. Suicide is a complex problem. For
arrangements for the client’s transport to the
instance, many suicide attempts are associ-
hospital.
ated with depression. Yet, many depressed
Just as we have national conversations
people never attempt suicide. Some suicidal about the funding of health care, we need
people make an attempt only after they are
similar conversations about the coordination
coming out of a depression, not when they
of care mental health care and its overall
are in despair. This topic needs much more
integration into the overall health care
unpacking….there is not enough time for me system. Otherwise, we will continue to see
to adequately address it in this interview.
the fragmentation.
Question: The media and politicians
Question: Dr. Ridley, would you share
continue to talk about a broken mental
with the HimPower family a few insightful
health system? In your opinion, what char-
thin gs about who you are and what charac-
acterizes the system? If it is indeed broken
terizes your life as a Christian mental health
where do we begin to fix it?
professional.
Dr. Ridley: The mental health system is
Dr. Ridley: First, I would like to thank
not broken because it simply does not exist. you for the opportunity to share with your
What is broken is the fragmentation among readership. I have been a licensed psychol-
the many types of service entities. Few
ogist for over 30 years. I am a professor
people really know the best place to seek
of counseling psychology at Texas A & M
www.himpowermagazine.com 29