Suicide Safe Care for Patients: Building a Foundation for Screening, Assessment, and Intervention

with Karl Rosston, LCSW, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, MT DPHHS

Description: This presentation focuses on suicide within our culture with specific attention towards the role of behavioral health in assessment and intervention with high-risk suicidal clients. The training is based on WICHE’s Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Providers and the Zero Suicide Initiative. The training covers national and Montana data, demographics of a suicidal person, warning signs, depression screening with the PHQ-9, risk assessment utilizing the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, safety planning, lethal means counseling, and caring contact. The training also focuses on evidenced-based practices, and resources available. The training meets the 2 CEU requirement for suicide risk assessment for licensed behavioral health providers in Montana.

Learning objectives for this presentation include: 1) Participants will be able to complete a depression screen; 2) Participants will be able to complete a suicide risk assessment; 3) Participants will be able to complete a safety plan; and 4) Participants will know the questions to ask concerning lethal means counseling and safe storage of firearms and medications.