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In our careers as mental health professionals, we occasionally face suicidal patients, either in an evaluation or in the midst of treatment. This can occur in an outpatient or inpatient setting. The patient may be of any age, i.e., child, adolescent, or adult. Because suicidal patients may be intentionally or unintentionally successful in their suicidal efforts, they require the most cautious and considered management. The rising tide of suicide among our youth, in addition to suicide as a common cause of death in our adult population, attests to the pressing need for enhanced clinical skills to help the suicidal patient. Lesse believes most suicides are avoidable with adequate assessment, prediction, and intervention. He openly states that many professionals do not have the range of clinical skills or access to clinical facilities to appropriately handle these patients. There is an assertion that some therapists are not emotionally suitable for treating suicidal patients. Such therapists may contribute to the patient's death because of the therapists' unconscious attitudes. As an example, the therapist may deny the seriousness