Proactive Reduction Of Suicide in Populations via Evidence-based Research (PROSPER): Advanced Skills Module 2

Kent Corso, PsyD, BCBA-D

A recent study found therapists less willing to treat patients with suicidal symptoms due to therapists’ self-identified lack of training and resources. Less than 50% of graduate training programs in mental health provide formal instruction on suicide risk assessment, and such training equals 90 minutes on average. This session is ideal for physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, behavior analysts and counselors. Through didactics, discussion, video and skills practice, learners will increase their competence, confidence and comfort managing suicidal patients. Attendees will develop the most contemporary skills in evidence-based risk assessment, management and clinical decision making for suicidal persons.

Learning Objectives:

1. Adopt language for suicidal patients that is respectful and non-judgmental.
2. Assist patients with suicidal symptoms in a collaborative, empowering way, anchored in their values
   and priorities.
3. Discriminate between death ideation and suicidal ideation.
4. Assess suicide risk in 10-15 minutes.
5. Discuss with patients ambivalence and reasons for living.
6. Collaboratively devise a crisis response plan that may reduce suicide attempts by 76%.
7. Provide brief interventions to de-activate the suicide mode.
8. Conduct effective means restriction counseling with patients.

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