Suicide Risk Assessment and Safety Planning for Children, Youth, and Families

Course Summary

Suicide is a major public health concern that has devastating long-term effects on both families and communities. In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 14 and the third leading cause of death for ages 15 to 24. In Colorado specifically, suicide attempts are an increasing concern. Suicide related variables may differ between young people and adults. It is important for behavioral healthcare professionals to understand and identify the potential risk factors for suicidality in younger people, and to be able to implement strategies to reduce risk of suicide in this population.

In this course, participants will gain a better understanding of suicide risk assessment, prevention, and intervention for children and adolescents. Participants will learn how to recognize suicide risk factors and warning signs and how to speak with young people who are at risk. Participants will review suicide risk assessment strategies to increase comfortability when speaking with younger clients about suicide. The course will also include a discussion of Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) and additional evidence-based intervention strategies developed to reduce the risk of suicide in children and adolescents.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Identify suicide risk factors in young people in behavioral healthcare, community, and educational settings.
2. Identify and implement effective strategies for conducting suicide risk assessments with young people and consider ways in which risk assessment may differ across settings.
3. Identify and implement evidence-based strategies for reducing suicide risk in young people, including safety planning, reducing access to means, and increasing protective factors.

Learning Audience

This course is intended for mental health professionals, social workers, substance use disorder counselors, and other behavioral health service providers.

Course Duration

• 60 minutes

Content Contributors

• Michelle West, LCP