This 2-hour training program addresses suicide screening of adults and children in all mental health, educational, correctional, oral health, and medical settings. The learner may skip irrelevant modules. As an approved adaptation of the NREPP-listed QPR Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention training program, this course does not address suicide risk assessment, risk formulation, or clinical decision making based upon a risk stratification determination.
Additional "bonus modules" are provided as options and may be skipped with no penalty. No quiz items come from the optional modules. The course also includes links to registered best practice guidelines.
This is not a train-the-trainer course, and thus does not include instructor guidelines, lesson plans, or student handouts.
Given the time constraints many clinicians are under to complete new training, this self-paced course is segmented into many brief learning modules, each of which can be completed in a few minutes to just over 20 minutes. The course is open for a full year so that learners can log in and out of the course to complete modules as time is available.
Note
If you are tasked with the assessment of suicide risk, please select a more robust training option which includes training in how to conduct a suicide risk assessment interview, formulate and document assessed risk, and manage risk over time.
Participants completing this program should be able to:
Understand suicide as a major public health problem
Understand the common myths and facts surrounding suicide
Identify unique verbal, behavioral, and situational suicide warning signs
Recognize at least three suicide warning signs
Recognize at least three risk factors for suicide
Recognize at least three protective factors against suicide
Know how to engage and assist a suicidal colleague or co-worker
Conduct an initial patient/client screening interview to detect suicide risk
Use the QPR suicide screen with other paper-and-pencil screening tools, e.g., the PHQ-9.
Identify major groups at risk for suicide
Briefly review each patient's personal and family medical history for suicide risk factors
Remove or limit access to the means of suicide
Be familiar with "hand off" procedures to alert other staff of patients at risk for suicide
Create a collaborative safety plan which includes follow-up care, peer support, and emergency numbers
Know what crisis materials, phone numbers, and family information to provide when the patient leaves the hospital or point of care site
Be familiar with evidence-based treatments that specifically target suicidal behavior
Document decisions regarding the care and referral of patients screened positive for suicide ideation or attempts