Understanding Suicide to Prevent Suicide
Tokens may not be used with webinars
2025
Suicide risk can evoke uncertainty and fear in treatment providers, in part because it is difficult to understand and the stakes are high. In this context, Dr. Klonsky will present his Three-Step-Theory of suicide. The theory offers an explanation for suicide that is evidence-based, concise, widely applicable, and actionable. The webinar will describe the conditions that give rise to suicidal desire, the conditions under which suicidal desire progresses to a potentially lethal suicide intent, and key causes of suicide risk that can be flexibly monitored and targeted across diverse intervention modalities and contexts. This webinar is designed to be of use to beginner, intermediate, and advanced audiences.
Target audience: This course is appropriate for all mental health professionals
Content level: Introductory/Intermediate
Educational Objectives
After attending this webinar, participants will be able to
- Identify the most common motivations for suicide
- Identify factors that facilitate transition from suicide ideation to suicide attempts
- List the most important treatment/prevention targets for reducing suicide risk
Syllabus
- Understanding Why People Consider Suicide
- What drives suicidal desire
- Understanding Why People Make Suicide Attempts
- What turns suicidal desire into action
- Evidence Behind the Three-Step Theory
- Key research findings that support the model
- Using the Theory in Practice
- How the model helps us understand and reduce risk