Youth Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention

Sarah Solis, LCSW  

Training Description

This training will focus on suicide risk factors, protective factors, assessment of risk severity, and safety planning. Attendees will familiarize themselves with general suicide risk and protective factors, also exploring factors that are specific to youth. Attendees will use this information to create a meaningful, dynamic safety plan that includes warning signs, formal and informal supports/contacts, supportive environments, and coping strategies. The training will include a brief discussion of suicide assessment tools available to agencies serving youth. Attendees will review the limits of confidentiality, framing these limits at the beginning of the treatment relationship, and how to initiate emergency services. The training will include large group discussion, breakout groups, and the use of vignettes.

Learning Objectives

• Attendees will be able to identify 3 suicide risk factors specific to youth.
• Attendees will be able to establish a suicide safety plan.
• Attendees will be able to verbalize the steps to initiate emergency contact.

Agenda

9:00-9:30 Sign in, introductions, objectives

9:30-10:00 Physiological Stress/Planning for a crisis

10:00-10:30 Discussing the limits of confidentiality with youth

10:30-10:45 Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

10:45-11:30 Suicide risk factors

11:30-12:00 Suicide protective factors

12:00-1:00 Lunch (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

1:00-2:00 Planning (mild, moderate, severe risk)

2:00-2:15 Emergency Response

2:15-2:30 Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

2:30-3:45 Motivational Interviewing and suicide prevention

3:45-4:00 Evaluations/Questions

4:00  Adjournment

This course meets the qualifications for (6) BBS CEUs for LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.