Experienced psychiatrists see every type of non-fatal suicide behavior and though. We become familiar with its intricacies and nuances. A good guide to thinking about suicidal thoughts and behavior is to think of two dimensions, lethality and intentionality.

Ask yourself how lethal was the attempt or is the plan? Did they say they will kill themselves by continuing to smoke? Or did they attempt suicide by a lethal means, for example, missed gunshot to the face? Here it may be good to know the statistics of completed suicide.

• Washington Post article by Dr. Wible.
• Editorial on Physician Suicide
• Prophylactic use of CBT in medical interns