Helping People Living with Suicidal Intensity: Risk Formulation, Support and Healing with Confidence and Compassion

The public health tragedy of suicide continues to wreak havoc in the lives of millions of Americans. This daunting challenge leaves many mental health providers feeling confused, overwhelmed, and even scared. Many often feel at a loss on how best to help people experiencing suicidal intensity and suicide grief. This workshop will transform how you view and work with people who are fighting to stay and will give you tools you need to help them help themselves. You will dive deeply into a comprehensive approach to suicide risk assessment and intervention and gain confidence and a heightened sense of compassion that are essential to understanding where clients are on their life journeys. Collaborating with clients, you will find ways to instill hope and a renewed desire to invest in lives that are worth living.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify key fears, concerns and gaps in training that create barriers in client-therapist rapport
2. List several “upstream, midstream, and downstream” approaches to suicide prevention – in and outside of the therapeutic relationship
3. Establish connection and collaboration with individuals at risk of suicide as an ally not an adversary
4. Use self-empowerment with clients when designing a crisis response and safety plans
5. List reasons why “contracting for safety” and “clipboard counseling” are no longer considered a best practice
6. Assess and review access to lethal means through a negotiated partnership agreement that meets people where they are
7. Use universally accessible tools to help clients regulate surges in suicidal intensity and stay out of the hospital
8. Describe the complexities in suicide grief and trauma and provide support across the lifespan

Continuing Education Information

Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mental Health Training Programs is approved by the California Psychological Association, Office of Professional Development, to sponsor continuing professional education for psychologists in California.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California Mental Health Training Programs designate this live activity for 3 hours continuing education credits for the above-identified licensed professionals