BUFFER
• I would like to ask you a few questions about your thoughts and how you are
feeling
• Some may apply to you, some of them may not, some may seem a little strange
– please bear with me. They’re quite normal Qs in this situation.
o Suicidal risk
o Delusion/abnormal belief
o Hallucination
Auditory
Visual
Tactile
Olfactory
o Thoughts
Withdrawal
Insertion
Broadcasting
Talk in 3RD PARTY for challenging questions
• Sometimes when people feel like this, they can hear voices of people who are
not around – is this ever the case
SUICIDAL RISK
• Sometimes when people feel low like this, they often feel like life is not worth
it, or sometimes like ending their life – is this ever the case?
REASSURE symptoms are common
• These thoughts and symptoms are actually very common – you are certainly not
alone in experiencing this
• There are lots that can be done to help your symptoms, which we will discuss
later on
Check INSIGHT
• Are you always aware that you are feeling like this / hearing these things /
having these thoughts?
• How do you feel about them?
SMOKING/ALCOHOL/DRUG
• Sometimes when people feel like this they can turn to things to help cope –
smoking, alcohol, even drugs perhaps. Can I check if this is ever the case with
yourself?”
Other SUPPORT
• Sometimes people benefit from talking through their symptoms with someone
who is a lot more experienced with these than we are – how do you feel about
this?
• What do you think about talking to a counsellor? Do you think this will benefit
you?
SENIOR if there’s risk
• I’m actually a little worried by the things that you’ve been telling me. I would
actually like you to see another colleague of mine on the same day before you
leave today