Recent studies find medical, mental health, first responders, and educators are increasingly being asked to assist individuals at risk for suicide. While these professionals attend basic training courses in this area, many still feel underprepared. Less than 50% of graduate training programs in mental health address suicide risk assessment. Resources for managing individuals with suicidal signs and symptoms are even more scarce. This four-hour event includes didactics, discussion, video, and skills practice. Learners will increase their competence, confidence, and comfort in managing suicidal patients. Attendees will advance their skills in contemporary evidence-based risk assessment, management, and clinical decision making for people with suicide risk.

Learning Objectives

• Adopt language for suicidal patients that is respectful and non-judgmental.
• Assist patients with suicidal symptoms in a collaborative, empowering way, anchored in their values and priorities.
• Assess suicide risk in 10-15 minutes.
• Discuss with patients ambivalence and reasons for living.
• Collaboratively devise a crisis response plan that may reduce suicide attempts by 76%.
• Provide brief interventions to de-activate the suicidal mode.