Which communication behavior is explicitly recommended as a Do in suicide risk discussions?

Which communication behavior is explicitly recommended as a Do in suicide risk discussions?

• A. Speak in a loud voice
• B. Maintain eye contact
• C. Read from a script aloud
• D. Avoid listening

Answer: (B)

Maintaining eye contact is recommended because it signals that you are present, attentive, and supportive during a suicide risk discussion. This nonverbal cue helps build trust, lets you read emotional signals, and communicates that the person is not alone, which encourages them to open up about what they’re feeling. In contrast, speaking in a loud voice can feel intimidating and push the person away; reading from a script can come across as impersonal and insincere; and avoiding listening undermines the core goal of the conversation by making the other person feel unheard.

Maintaining eye contact is recommended because it signals that you are present, attentive, and supportive during a suicide risk discussion. This nonverbal cue helps build trust, lets you read emotional signals, and communicates that the person is not alone, which encourages them to open up about what they’re feeling. In contrast, speaking in a loud voice can feel intimidating and push the person away; reading from a script can come across as impersonal and insincere; and avoiding listening undermines the core goal of the conversation by making the other person feel unheard.