Youth Suicide, Updated 1st Edition

Course overview

Suicide and suicidal behaviors affect individuals, families, and communities, and addressing youth suicide has become a public health imperative. This intermediate-level course provides essential information on the tools needed to assess youth for suicide risk and to engage in interventions with these youth across various settings. Suicide risk factors are discussed, including psychiatric diagnoses, family and social factors, sexual minority status (individuals self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender), bullying, and demographic factors like age, gender, race, and ethnicity. Participants will learn about assessment approaches and treatment planning. A decision-making tree and safety planning and documentation protocols are provided. The course reviews the use of psychopharmacology and of psychotherapies such as dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and attachment-based family therapy. Presentations of case vignettes illuminate key concepts for the various interventions. Special mention is given to clinicians who experience the loss of a patient to suicide. This course is designed for behavioral health specialists, including social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.