Importance of Suicide Prevention Training
As we continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic, studies are now showing the impact that physical and social isolation, job stress, and the uncertainty of the unknown are having on our mental health. This impact has led to an increase in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among both healthcare professionals and the general population. With suicide being the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, it’s important for your entire staff to be aware of proper suicide prevention protocols.
No matter your care setting, suicide prevention training should be an integral part of your practice. We hope this page serves as a resource on best practices in identifying, assessing, and responding to suicide risk in persons served.
Using Training to Improve Suicide Prevention Efforts
Simulation and scenario-based training provide staff with a safe space to learn new skills and critically apply them in a relevant situation. When it comes to identifying and preventing suicide, simulation training can help staff bridge the knowing-doing gap by reinforcing learned skills and improving confidence when they need to apply the same skills to a real-life situation.
Relias’ behavioral health training library includes suicide prevention simulation training that enables clinicians to apply their critical thinking, knowledge, and skills. Sample our simulation training courses below to see just how impactful this type of training can be to improve staff skills and confidence when working with clients expressing suicidal thoughts.
Sample Course
In Session: Suicide Assessment and Intervention for Adults
This course is designed to provide behavioral health clinicians with the ability to apply critical thinking, knowledge and skills in simulated clinical sessions and to real-world experiences.
Course Preview
Behavioral Health Screening Tools
Behavioral health screening can improve the identification of disorders that may have otherwise gone unnoticed and untreated, facilitate referrals to needed services, and reduce adverse outcomes.
Course Preview
Suicide Screening for Direct Care
In the past decade, the number of deaths by suicide has increased, and even greater numbers of people attempt or have frequent thoughts about suicide. It is therefore likely that you will encounter suicidal individuals in your work.
Course Preview
Suicide in Corrections: Identifying Suicide Risk
Preview this course on suicide in corrections which covers suicide risk factors, correctional stressors, warning signs and strategies for identifying suicide risk.
Webinars on Suicide Prevention
Upcoming: Introduction to Relias’ Suicide Prevention Simulation Training Courses
In this webinar, learn the benefits of scenario-based learning and simulation training and preview Relias’ suicide prevention simulation courses.
Upcoming: Saving Our Children: Current Considerations for Preventing Suicide in Children and Adolescents
Explore the role of parents, guardians, and other caregivers in supporting suicide prevention in children and adolescents and understand the next steps and tools to effectively screen for suicide in this population.
Preventing Suicide in Public Safety Settings
Front-line correctional staff often carry a heavy burden to identify, monitor, and respond to suicidal behaviors in correctional facilities. Providing staff with knowledge and tools can make identifying suicide risk easier.
Course Preview
Suicide in Corrections: Identifying Suicide Risk
Preview this course on suicide in corrections which covers suicide risk factors, correctional stressors, warning signs and strategies for identifying suicide risk.
It’s Time for a Comprehensive Solution to Suicide Prevention
Suicide was labeled a U.S. public health crisis by the Surgeon General in 1999. Twenty years later, it remains a public health crisis. A different approach is needed.
Preventing Suicide in Correctional Facilities: The Correctional Officer’s Role
Front-line correctional staff often carry the heaviest burden to identify, monitor and respond to suicidal behaviors in correctional facilities.
Real Stories on Overcoming Suicide
The 2%: The Kevin Hines Story
Listen to Kevin Hines tell his story with mental illness and surviving a jump from the Golden Gate bridge.
“We’re never going to change a generation until the generations that are coming up know what to look for and how to get that person to safety before the suicide attempt occurs, before the mental breakdown happens. And when we get that training in place on a national basis, and its mandatory, you will see someone be able to represent for a loved one and know that they’ve done the right thing no matter the outcome.”
– Kevin Hines
Darkness Under the Lights: The Joe Williams Story
Hear professional athlete Joe Williams share how he overcame his toughest opponents: depression and suicidal thoughts.
“A simple thing like mental health first aid training can stop so many people from going down those tough roads. If we can train up so many people to be equipped to be able to help people when they’re in their struggle, I believe we’ll see a reduction in suicides because we’ll see people getting help.”
– Joe Williams
From Experience to Advocacy: The Matt Runnall Story
Hear Matt Runnall share his experience with bipolar disorder and suicidality, and how he is now fighting the stigma through education and awareness.
“I now live with bipolar disorder. I live with chronic suicide ideations, but I understand it’s a big part of my journey and I’m very grateful for the journey that I am on. I’m out here now showing people that you can live a healthy, happy, fulfilling life even though I have that diagnosis and that diagnosis doesn’t have to become who I am.”
– Matt Runnall
Relias Resources
For free courses on telehealth, self-care, and more, please visit our Coronavirus Toolkit. You can also check out these additional free resources below:
Substance Use Disorder Training
A key CCBHC requirement is the ability to provide substance use disorder services to anyone in your community. To help your staff treat SUDs, we’ve put together a resource page dedicated to training and resources on peer support, evidence-based treatment practices, and more.
Learn More
Telehealth
COVID-19 has forced organizations and people to shift to telehealth. Review these resources to learn the benefits of telehealth and receive unlimited access to telehealth courses for you and your staff.
Learn More
Trauma-Informed Care
The impact of trauma is far reaching and affects every aspect of health. By implementing a trauma-informed care approach, both staff and clients work together in a framework of wellness that produces improved outcomes. Review these resources to help transform your organizational culture and practice.
Learn More
Articles & Blogs
Building A Life Worth Living: Seeing Hope Beyond Suicide
Lorilee Binstock talks about her experiences struggling with suicidal feelings and what helped her get through them.
Assessing Risk and Preventing Suicide via Telehealth
With many clinicians now treating clients via telehealth, how can you safely assess, manage, and address suicidal ideation in a virtual environment?
Suicide Prevention: How to Help When Social Determinants Spiral
Social determinants of health play a very large role in substance use disorders and depression. These determinants feed off one another and produce a downward spiral effect that increase the risk of suicide.
How to Improve Suicide Screenings in Primary and Integrated Care
Evidence has shown that suicide risk screening in primary care is effective, yet there is still a serious need to improve the frequency with which they’re conducted.
Additional Resources
Ensure Your Organization Is Prepared
Training plays a critical role in suicide prevention and treatment efforts. Relias can help organizations:
- Build a culture committed to reducing suicide and continuous quality improvement
- Train a staff capable of identifying risk factors, assessing suicide risk, and providing quality care
- Promote the delivery of evidence-based care
- Evaluate and monitor staff performance
Speak to a Relias representative to receive a personalized demonstration on how Relias tools and training can support your efforts to reduce suicide among the individuals you serve.