Suicide Prevention and Intervention for Interprofessional Health Teams

Course overview

Suicide is a major global public health concern. An overview of suicide prevention for interprofessional health teams is discussed, covering the prevalence and trends of suicide, various theories of suicidology (stress-diathesis model, interpersonal theory of suicide), and evidence-based screening tools such as the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Computerized Adaptive Screen for Suicidal Youth (CASSY), and Patient Safety Screener-3 (PSS-3). The importance of assessment, identifying risk factors, and accurate diagnosis of suicidality is highlighted, alongside appropriate intervention and treatment strategies. Standardized protocols have been developed for the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of suicidal ideation. There are modifiable factors, protective factors, and behaviors that mental health professionals should understand when considering interventions for the prevention and treatment of suicide in community and crisis care settings. The literature on suicidology and large-scale studies suggests that high suicide rates will continue for individuals in certain population groups. Access to national and global guidelines on suicide assessment and treatment is available for mental health teams for the development of a treatment plan, and throughout inpatient and outpatient care.