The Rising Threat of Suicide: Recognizing, Preventing, and Responding to Suicidality Through Experiential Techniques

Course overview

Before the pandemic began, suicide was already a significant threat. With the ongoing traumatic pressure following the pandemic and other human-made and natural disasters, suicide has become an even greater crisis. This workshop will equip licensed mental health professionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders with a trauma-informed, experiential framework for understanding and responding to the rising threat of suicide across diverse populations. Participants will explore current research on suicidality, including neuro-biological underpinnings, risk and protective factors, and the impact of trauma, dissociation, and emotional dysregulation. Through demonstration, guided practice, and case application, attendees will learn practical, experiential interventions-such as somatic grounding, sensory regulation, art-based expression of ambiguity, sand tray use, and relational co-regulation-to support clients and patients experiencing ongoing or passive suicidal ideation. The training emphasizes collaborative safety planning and clinician attunement, empowering professionals to intervene more effectively, stabilize crises, and foster client and patient resilience. This workshop is designed for mental health providers seeking actionable skills, deeper insight, and increased confidence in suicide prevention and response.