Suicide Safety Planning During a Pandemic: The Implications of COVID-19 on Coping with a Crisis

Course overview

This course is based upon material published in Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior and is available as an open access article. The global spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) starting in late 2019 has spurred rapid and drastic changes in day-to-day life across the world. In the United States, prolonged closure of public school systems, statewide shelter-in-place orders, and guidance around social distancing represent unprecedented strategies being utilized to limit the spread of this disease. Important questions have emerged regarding the collateral impact that these public health interventions may have on other diseases and health-related outcomes. In particular, the impact of social distancing on behavioral health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and the catastrophic outcomes they can produce, namely suicide, is unknown but concerning. Although remote and virtual care options have become more widely available, it is also important to consider adaptations that are necessary to promote wellness for socially distanced patients between sessions. One example centers around safety planning as a crisis response intervention and tool for individuals who are at elevated risk for suicide. This course identifies some common strategies that may no longer be feasible under current shelter-in-place orders, as well as some ways to alter strategies so that the core function of that behavior is retained, even if the actual behavior is different. The course also discusses how the use of technology may facilitate virtual socializing and some alternative strategies for building a sense of meaning, purpose, and mastery during times when one may be severely limited in terms of basic activities of daily life. This course on safety planning for suicide during a pandemic is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop or increase their knowledge of coping during a crisis. The course material includes a review of strategies for socially distanced safety planning. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal. Authors: Pruitt, Mcintosh, and Reger Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding suicide safety planning during a pandemic. Specifically, a professional will: Identify why broader safety planning efforts may be needed during a pandemic Recognize triggers that indicate use of a safety plan Summarize adaptations to common coping strategies for use under social distancing conditions Citation: Pruitt, L. D., Mcintosh, L. S., and Reger, G. Suicide Safety Planning During a Pandemic: The Implications of COVID-19 on Coping with a Crisis. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 50(3). June 2020.