Breaking Confidentiality Following Suicide Risk Assessments with System Involved Youth

Ashley Maliken, PhD

Training Description

Given the rates of suicidality and self-injurious behavior, effectively assessing risk is a key part of working with System Involved Youth (SIY). Similarly, knowing when and how to break confidentiality in the presence of novel or increased risk is an important skill. Today’s workshop will briefly review risk factors of Non Suicidal Self Injury (NSSI)/suicidality in SIY before discussing how to thoroughly orient caregivers and youth to the limits of confidentiality. We will then review strategies to effectively break confidentiality while minimizing the negative impact to the relationship and conclude with a role play demonstrating the skills taught.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to identify 2 reasons to avoid hospitalization for suicidality/NSSI in System Involved Youth.

· Participants will be able to identify 3 strategies that may hinder effective communication when breaking confidentiality with system involved youth.