Online Counseling and Suicide Intervention Specialist (OCSIS)
Course Features
- SPRC Registered Best Practice
- Videos
- Audio
- Interactive Practice Challenges
- Thought challenges
- Interactive Quizzes
- Surveys
- Optional Social Learning
- Rich Content
Course Description
The world has moved online, and so have suicidal people….
Earn a Certificate as an Online Counseling and Suicide Intervention Specialist!
Training focus: Knowledge and skill sets for text and IM communications, but suitable for anyone working with suicidal people by telephone, Skype, or face-to-face
Problem
- Studies show more text messages are sent than phone calls made
- Suicidal people are texting their desire, intent and plans to die to others
- Of our highest risk group, 90% of men use the internet to find health information
- Only via web-based communications can confidentiality be fully protected
- Online intervention and counseling has proven to be safe and effective
Why now?
In some recent studies published in the new NOVA Science Internet and Suicide (2009), several authors note:
- Internet behavioral interventions appear safe and effective
- A greater percentage of contacts by email voluntarily report suicidality compared telephone callers
- A high degree of self-disclosure appears common
- Many of those seeking text-only communications appear to need the extra confidentiality of Web based interactions
- Hearing-impaired and speech-impaired helpers – and those in distress – find text-only communications highly useful
- Persons in remote areas where no mental health services are available can benefit from online assistance
- Young people whose telephone calls may be monitored by malevolent parents can get help online and when other avenues are blocked
- Gender identity issues, even gender, and all other areas of bias and racial prejudice can be disclosed (or not) in cyberspace
- For those who lack trust, or fear the loss of face, or need to feel they are still in control of at least some of their life, find the internet a safe place to venture out for help
- Contact can be asynchronous (email) or synchronous (IM)
- 24/7 emergency access is possible
- There is no need to wait for an appointment
- Petrol and transportation is expensive, bandwidth is cheap
- Agoraphobics, persons with mobility challenges, chronic disease or who are bed ridden can still get to a keyboard and a computer
- Many clients prefer e-counseling
- Underserved rural areas can be prioritized
- Schedules can be flexible
On the downside:
- There are no verbal clues, or behavioral clues to match words with expressed emotion
- Addiction to internet use – including contact with helpers – is not unheard of and may present problems similar to those encountered with so-called “frequent callers.”
- Security breaches of interactions may occur
- The seriously mentally ill may not be appropriate candidates for online interventions
- The person must be able to text and navigate the Web
- Fluency in the use of the written word is necessary and not much researched
Bottom line: Providers need to be prepared to meet and help suicidal people where they are; in cyberspace.
Solution
According to Dr. Keith Harris of the University of Queensland, the problem of “suicide surfers” is global. Currently, multiple authors in the new Nova Science book, Internet and Suicide conclude that the Internet serves as a major information resource for suicidal people. Again, Dr. Harris, “Better online support services for suicidal people are more important than shutting down websites showing ways to die.”
Why it will work
When people are in a suicidal crisis they need help NOW! For online suicide crisis intervention to be effective it must be accessible, available 24/7, affordable at no or low cost, and anonymous. Convenience and privacy cannot be overemphasized for high risk groups, including males and youth. Helpers responding to those at-risk and untreated who cannot or will not access traditional services must be well trained.
Why this training program?
Sigmund Freud once said, “By words alone one person can make another person blissfully happy or drive him to despair.” In this unique course you will learn to use the power of the written word to save lives. The arc of human communications has been forever changed by the Internet, and this training program was created specifically to help suicidal people seeking assistance in cyberspace.
International students please note
Suicide rates for QPR courses are US-specific. To determine suicide rates in your country, please visit the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide_rates/en/ .
As you will see, many of these reports are quite dated. If your country keeps such data but does not necessarily report to WHO, try Googling federal, state, or province name and "suicide rate." If you are teaching suicide prevention courses you will need this data; the more local the data the better. But remember that suicide rates need 5 to 10 year horizons to be of much value as to interpreting any changes in trend lines.
The training program
Modularized in a rich mix of text, video, voice-over PowerPoint™ lectures, interactive practice sessions, and other state-of-the-art interactive and e-learning technologies, by the end of your training experience you will have met or exceeded the educational standards currently in place for clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers.
Prerequisites include text messaging and web navigation skills. The course is SCORM compliant and approved for continuing education.
Core competencies taught
The suicide crisis intervention and risk assessment competencies taught in this course are derived from nationally defined standards and recommendations as published by the American Association of Suicidology and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Further, these competencies are framed within the 2009 Practice Guidelines: Core Elements in Responding to Mental Health Crises as published by the U.S. Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Note:
The inclusion of the word "Counseling" in the title of this course was recommended following a comprehensive peer review process during which reviewers noted that "suicide crisis intervention" was an insufficient description of what is taught. The counseling skills taught in this course are specific to mitigating suicide risk, and thus the course is not a comprehensive or substitute training program in counselor education, but rather a value-added skill set for those serving persons at-risk for suicidal behaviors.
The key knowledge competencies taught to all participants to earn a Certificate of Course Completion are listed below.
- Is aware of relevant suicide prevention efforts in own country
- Understands the ethical principles for online services
- Understands suicidal behavior, terms, statistics, phenomenology
- Understands common myths and misconceptions about suicide
- Understands suicidal desire and its sources
- Understands suicidal capability (attempt history, intoxication, etc.)
- Understands suicidal intent (attempt in progress, lethal planning, etc.)
- Understands the relationship of suicide to violence toward others
- Understands suicide buffers (social supports, ambivalence, etc.)
- Demonstrates knowledge of suicide risk and protective factors
- Understands the relationship psychiatric illness to suicide
- Understands the purpose of means restriction
- Identifies high risk groups, especially in cyberspace
- Understands involuntary treatment laws/need to rescue
The OCSIS Certificate of Course Completion means that the learner completed all modules and successfully passed all required quizzes, exams, and practice challenges, thus demonstrating having mastered the knowledge competencies listed above.
Pricing
Volunteers, students, and paid professionals may earn the “Online Counseling and Suicide Intervention Specialist” certificate. There are two certificates available:
Individual Certificate Pricing:
| Volume discounts available | Students and volunteers | Professionals | NBCC Continuing Education Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Certificate of Course Completion (40 hours) |
$199 |
$399 |
40 |
|
10+ |
$159 |
$319 |
40 |
For any questions with pricing, please contact Brian Quinnett @ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thank you for helping to prevent suicide.
OCSIS Testimonials
What volunteers and professionals say about the OCSIS training program.
Benefits and recommendations
“I liked how the didactic aspects of this training were interspersed with videos, actual cases and personal stories.” -Karen Varano
“I think the most beneficial part of the training was having the ability to do practice exercises with real cases and responses. Simulating an actual setting you might come across later is vital to fully understanding it.” -Danielle Cantarella
“I really liked how I was able to complete this training at my own pace. As a college student, I am often very busy with classes and other activities, but I was able to complete the training on time because I was allowed to do it whenever I had free time.” -Kayla Michelle Imrisek
“I would say that this program takes a lot of very important and helpful information and delivers it in an easy to read, easy to understand manner. Though I would not consider the course easy, I would say that after completion it is rewarding, and very encouraging.” – crisis line volunteer
“The QPR Suicide Intervention Specialist Training is very thoughtful and thorough. I already posted Dr. Quinnett's free e-book on my facebook page and to the online facebook community I joined after 3 Cornell University Students jumped to their deaths in one month recently.” – a college student
Continuing Education Credit
Our courses should qualify for continuing education for most professions.
Counselors: The QPR Institute is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements. The ACEP solely is responsible for all aspects of the program.
Nurses: Varies with state or organizational membership.
Note: Since many professions have their own continuing education credentialing and certification processes, please submit the course description and required hours to complete to your own accrediting body for approval. Or, we are happy to provide reviewer access to any of these courses to make their own determinations.
Reviewer Access and for questions about CEs: Please contact Brian Quinnett, National Training Coordinator at bquinn@turbonet.com for complimentary review access.