13620 Counsel on Access to Lethal Means (CALM): Part 2

Course overview

Discussion of lethal means counseling, including when it is appropriate the implement and how to initiate a conversation regarding it, safe storage and access options for firearms in the home of a person at risk of suicide, examples of ways to reduce access to various means of suicide, and how to utilize effective communication techniques when providing lethal means counseling. Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting harmful effects on individuals, families, and communities. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and was responsible for more than 47,000 deaths in 2017, resulting in about one death every eleven minutes. While its causes are complex and determined by multiple factors, the goal of suicide prevention is to reduce factors that increase risk and increase factors that promote resilience. Suicide and other forms of violence can be prevented by using a public health approach that addresses risk and protective factors for multiple types of violence. This program discusses when and how to initiate lethal means counseling, safe storage and access options for firearms and other lethal means, and therapeutic communication when providing lethal means counseling.