Community-Based Interventions to Reduce Suicide Risk

Course overview

Accurate assessment, safety planning, and treatment are the cornerstones of suicide intervention. Suicide prevention also encompasses community-wide programs and interventions that target populations long before any elevated risk or suicidal behaviors occur. These programs bolster protective factors against suicide while minimizing the development of risk factors. This course examines community-based suicide prevention approaches that mitigate risk factors and support a comprehensive approach. You will learn how early interventions impact suicide risk. You will also learn the role that connectedness, life skills, and resilience play in preventing suicide. Examples of specific programs and interactive exercises will support your learning of these concepts. The goal of this course is to provide addictions, behavioral health counseling, case management/care management, marriage and family therapy, nursing, psychology, and social work professionals and physicians in health and human services with information about community-based, upstream suicide prevention approaches. Note: This course focuses specifically on early interventions that are designed to reduce suicide risk. It does not focus on screening, assessment, or interventions for actively suicidal individuals. The Relias library has many additional suicide prevention courses that can help you improve your skills in screening, assessment, interventions, and postvention.