1ALERT: Suicide Prevention for Washington Healthcare Professionals 6-Hour Training

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

• Identify acute and chronic risk factors for suicide, as well as protective factors, across diverse patient populations.
• Describe and implement appropriate screening tools for suicide risk, including tools tailored to specific age groups and populations, and determine when and how to conduct screenings effectively.
• Apply structured interview techniques to gather comprehensive information on suicide risk, protective factors, and warning signs, including the influence of substance use.
• Analyze information obtained during suicide risk screenings to inform patient care decisions, intervention strategies, and individualized treatment plans.
• Recognize and respond to imminent harm related to self-injurious behaviors and lethal means, including assessing the intent behind self-injury and understanding the impulsivity and lethality associated with various means.
• Develop and document suicide risk assessments according to clinical and legal standards, ensuring thorough and accurate record-keeping.
• Identify and select effective referral resources and apply best practices for connecting patients to supportive services, ensuring continuity of care through transitions.
• Create, monitor, and adapt safety plans with patients, incorporating strategies to reduce access to lethal means, engaging third-party support, and reinforcing coping mechanisms.
• Outline evidence-based treatment options for patients at risk of suicide, including counseling approaches, psychiatric medications, and substance use interventions.
• Identify population-specific risk and protective factors, intervention strategies, and relevant resources, with a particular focus on veterans and other high-risk groups.
• Use culturally sensitive approaches to suicide prevention, tailoring communication and interventions to respect the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of patients.
• Apply effective communication strategies to discuss lethal means restriction with patients and their support networks, fostering a collaborative approach to patient safety.