Suicide Prevention: Assessment, Treatment, and Management of Risks

Fulfills requirement: Pennsylvania’s suicide prevention course requirements for psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors

Suicide prevention requires a complex, multifaceted approach. Strategies for prevention at community and societal levels target social, economic, cultural, and psychological factors and challenges. The focus of this course is on the role of the mental health professional in assessing, treating, and managing suicide risks. Course materials include an introductory text followed by an interview (in both audio and transcript formats) with David Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, a clinical psychologist who is renowned for his work in suicide prevention and ethics. The course also includes a suicide checklist as a supplementary resource for clinicians.

The first section provides a brief overview of community suicide prevention strategies and then examines several key ways in which mental health professionals can play an instrumental role in preventing suicide in their clients. These strategies include identifying early warning signs, conducting screenings and more in-depth assessments, assessing risk factors, leveraging protective factors, and providing evidence-based interventions and safety planning.

The second section consists of an engaging interview conducted by Ofer Zur, Ph.D. with David Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP. Dr. Jobes discusses his Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidology (CAMS) approach to the prevention of suicide. He also provides a historical perspective and his professional opinion on issues such as hospitalization, no-harm contracts, risk assessment, and liability.