Assessor question that has me confused. — Scope | Disability forum
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Assessor question that has me confused.

Options
FairHairedFoodie
FairHairedFoodie Community member Posts: 28 Courageous
in PIP, DLA, and AA
I have been sitting on a series of questions that the assessor asked during my telephone assessment with IAS on Tuesday.

She asked about suicide attempts. How many there had been, and when they occurred. She then asked if I still had thoughts of suicide, to which I answered yes. It's the next question asked that made me uneasy... she asked, "Why don't you act on them?" My answer was honest: that I'm too afraid. She dropped it at that point without further discussion on the topic.

Is it normal for an assessor to ask someone why they *don't* attempt suicide? And what purpose does the answer serve either way?

I appreciate any light that may be shed on this.
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,655 Disability Gamechanger
    Options
    To me it sounds very wrong, to ask someone why they don't act on such thoughts shouldn't be asked by someone who is not fully trained to deal with whatever the answer maybe. Perhaps after you get whatever benefit you applied for you could consider a formal complaint, I know I would.
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Si_Obhan
    Si_Obhan Community member Posts: 34 Courageous
    Options
    That’s quite a common question to be asked... I wont try and guess at why but I’ve seen a lot of people on Facebook get offended by this question. They are asking for a reason - there’s no harm in asking why before you make a complaint. There could be a completely legitimate reason. I know that when people have asked me about this in the past they have written that I have suicidal thoughts but I don’t act on them because of XY and Z being my protective factors. I’ve never *not* been asked this question when it comes to ill mental health and suicidal thoughts. I hope that reassures you somewhat.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FairHairedFoodie
    FairHairedFoodie Community member Posts: 28 Courageous
    edited April 2020
    Options
    Thank you, @Si_Obhan

    I have really been struggling to understand why they would ask me, a disabled person, why I don't try to kill myself.

    This has been posed countless times by community mental health and the psychiatrists there, but it felt particularly and unnecessarily uncomfortable when being assessed for a PIP claim.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FairHairedFoodie
    FairHairedFoodie Community member Posts: 28 Courageous
    Options
    @Username_removed  Thank you! Just generally speaking, my answer of “I’m too afraid to follow through...” Any insight into how this might be applied?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MangyWolf
    MangyWolf Posts: 40 Connected
    Options
    'I stopped trying to kill myself because my several attempts caused so much damage and pain that I am now too worried about being left alive as a vegetable if future attempts still don't work. I am waiting for and hoping that voluntary euthanasia becomes available in my lifetime and I would be the first person in queue for it'

    This is my answer when people ask me that.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lisak20
    lisak20 Community member Posts: 9 Listener
    Options
    FairHairedFoodie said:
    I have been sitting on a series of questions that the assessor asked during my telephone assessment with IAS on Tuesday.

    She asked about suicide attempts. How many there had been, and when they occurred. She then asked if I still had thoughts of suicide, to which I answered yes. It's the next question asked that made me uneasy... she asked, "Why don't you act on them?" My answer was honest: that I'm too afraid. She dropped it at that point without further discussion on the topic.

    Is it normal for an assessor to ask someone why they *don't* attempt suicide? And what purpose does the answer serve either way?

    I appreciate any light that may be shed on this.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Brightness

Categories

Do you need advice on your energy costs?


Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.