Course Summary
In late 2021, the Surgeon General declared a mental health crisis among adolescents in the United States. This crisis has been slowly building for some time, which is evident from trends in adolescent suicide rates over the past two decades. Between 2008 and 2017, the rate of suicide in individuals ages 10 to 24 increased by 60%, and suicide is now a leading cause of death for Colorado adolescents between the ages of 10-24. Risk factors for suicide and other complex behavioral health concerns (e.g., anxiety, depression) differ based on childhood developmental stage, and early identification and treatment may be key to impacting what could otherwise be an unstable or worsening trajectory over the lifespan. In this course, you will discover how measurement-based care and structured screening tools can be used to help these deserving children and youth get the care they need.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Feel more confident when working with children and adolescents across the spectrum of behavioral health needs.
- Describe the health status of children and adolescents with complex behavioral needs.
- Identify some structured screening tools for the most common mental health concerns in children and adolescents in Colorado.
- Describe how social determinants of health and intersecting identities impact the identification and treatment of adolescents with complex behavioral health needs.
Learning Audience
The learners for this training are mental health professionals, social workers, substance abuse counselors, and other behavioral health service providers.
Continuing Education Credits
This course is eligible for Continued Education Units (CEU) upon completion, which are awarded as follows:
- 1 CEU credit awarded per (1) hour of completed learning
The University of Colorado is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The University of Colorado maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Questions about CE credits?
Course Duration
Content Contributors
- Sarah Michelle Kennedy, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
