Question

A 15 year old Inuit boy from a remote community presents to a nursing station with low mood, social withdrawal and thoughts of suicide without a plan. He reports friends who have died by suicide and difficulty accessing mental health support. Which action best reflects the Health Advocate and Communicator CanMEDS roles in this context?

Accepted Answer

Arrange urgent safety planning, involve his family with consent and coordinate access to culturally safe mental health services including telepsychiatry

Answer

Advise him to think positively and provide a self help booklet

Answer

Tell him suicide is illegal and discourage further discussion

Answer

Refer him only to an urban emergency department hundreds of kilometres away without local support

Answer

Document symptoms but avoid addressing suicide directly to prevent suggestion

Practice question