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Each session will go from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. MT.  Event Description Responding to mental health crises and the risk of suicide in a school setting presents unique challenges and considerations for mental health practitioners, educators, and parents. Suicidal thoughts do not discriminate and can affect anyone. Suicide rates have been continuously rising since 2007 and are now ranked as the 10th leading cause of death in 2017 for all age ranges and ranked second among youth ages 10-24 (Ivey-Stephenson et al., 2020). During this free, three-part series, the following topics were addressed: suicide prevention awareness; school-appropriate response and screening referral practices for youth experiencing suicidal ideation and/or intent; postvention as well as supports and safety planning after the child returns to school.     Session 1 - January 25, 2022 Suicidal Awareness in the School Setting   Access the slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording     Session 2 - February 1, 2022 School-Appropriate Response and Screening Practices   Access the slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   Session 3 - February 8, 2022 School Supports, Safety Planning    Access the slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE to view the recording   Trainer Erin Briley, M.S., NCSP                   Erin Briley is the School Mental Health Coordinator for the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) and a Technical Assistant Associate for WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program.  As the school mental health lead, her work focuses on providing intensive technical assistance, resources, and training school staff to support school-based mental health. As a Technical Assistant Associate, her work is primarily focused on assisting in creating and implementing Psychology Internship Consortiums in rural western states. Ms. Briley has over 20 years of experience working in the schools, serving primarily as a school psychologist for school districts in California, Hawaii, and Colorado, while providing direct and indirect supports for children ages 3 through 22 of all developmental levels. Ms. Briley has also served temporarily as a special education and a School Based Behavioral Health program administrator and trained and supervised paraprofessionals providing individualized supports to children with special needs. Ms. Briley has extensive experience with psycho-educational evaluations, classroom, and individual behavioral management, conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments, creating Behavioral Support Plans, special education legal mandates, and rights related to IDEA and Section 504, and learning needs accommodations to support. Ms. Briley earned her Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University, her Master’s in Counseling/School Psychology and a Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at California State University Los Angeles and is working on her PhD (ABD) in Clinical Psychology. She is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.   

About this Resource: Region IV is the largest HHS region, comprised of eight states and 26% of the U.S. population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide continues to be a leading cause of death and rates are increasing across the US, including the Southeast region. Populations at risk in Region IV states may face geographical disparities in accessing care, in particular crisis services. Visualizing relevant factors such as county-level suicide rates and available resources (e.g., crisis services), can be a challenge in a large, diverse region. The Southeast MHTTC Data Visualization Project provides information on Region IV priorities in an easy to understand graphical format.   Suicide and Crisis Services Access Relevant Factors: County level suicide rates, behavioral health facilities providing crisis services. To view each map in this visualization series, scroll using the grey scroller bar or grey arrows below. You may also click on each of the grey boxes (or tabs) below. Map 1 shows the suicide rates by county. Map 2 shows the availability of crisis intervention teams. Map 3 shows the availability of emergency mobile services. References for data sources are provided in the last tab.

  Supporting Mental Well-Being of Farmers and Their Families; HHS Region 8 Access slide deck by clicking DOWNLOAD above CLICK HERE for the recording   Session Description As part of our ongoing effort to address farm stress in rural agricultural communities, the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), in collaboration with the Colorado AgrAbility Project, is proud to present Supporting Mental Well-Being of Farmers and Their Families, a training on suicide awareness and prevention for farmers and their families.    Our producers work in high-stress, variable environments with careers and income dependent on weather conditions, variable commodity pricing, tariffs, and more. As a result, many farmers (to include owners, producers, ranchers, and seasonal workers) experience significant stress that can challenge their mental well-being. This session will provide a clear and relevant definition of farm stress and explain how farm owners, ranchers, agricultural workers, and migrant farmers experience farm stress. Dr. Andrew McLean, a clinical professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, will discuss the prevalence of mental illness (to include substance misuse), as well as barriers to mental health care access, and utilization among rural and agricultural communities. Additional topics include specific information about how to prevent and screen for the risk of suicide; and behavioral health care prevention and treatment models that have worked for rural agricultural communities.    Trainer Andrew McLean, MD, MPH Dr. McLean is a Clinical Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. He is also a hospital surveyor for The Joint Commission. He previously was the Medical Director of the ND Department of Human Services. Dr. McLean has served on a number of clinical, administrative, and regulatory boards including medical licensing and professional health programs. He has lectured internationally on pertinent behavioral and public health issues. Dr. McLean has a particular interest in individual and community resilience and collaborative care.  

  This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics. The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events. The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt suicide. This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population. It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention. The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention. This master class series is aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations. Objectives Module 5: When Suicide Happens in School Settings Discuss the role of connectedness in schools Address the role of teachers and other school personnel in suicide-related incidents in schools Provide resources for schools 

  Suicide Prevention in Primary Care - Workshop Wednesday Session Access slide deck with the green download button above Click here to watch the recording   Session Description Statistics show that suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States, particularly in the Rocky Mountain region. Physicians and primary care staff are the most common point of contact for individuals struggling with their mental health. This training examines concerns within the clinical setting about suicide risk, assessment, and intervention. Using the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices as a guide, participants will learn about the assessment tools PHQ and Columbia, how to ask someone if they are considering suicide, and other intervention strategies.    Trainer Debra Brownlee, PhD

  This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics. The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events. The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt suicide. This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population. It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention. The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention. This master class series is aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations. Objectives Module 4:  Assessment, Prevention, and Intervention Identify effective strategies for assessment and engagement with Latino populations at risk of suicidal harm Describe procedures and approaches to establishing the intent of suicidal harm Discuss Family-Centered Approaches and pertinence for Latino populations

  This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics. The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events. The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt suicide. This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population. It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention. The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention. This master class series is aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations. Objectives Module 4:  Assessment, Prevention, and Intervention Identify effective strategies for assessment and engagement with Latino populations at risk of suicidal harm Describe procedures and approaches to establishing the intent of suicidal harm Discuss Family-Centered Approaches and pertinence for Latino populations

  This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics. The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events. The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt suicide. This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population. It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention. The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention.   This master class series is aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations.   Objectives: Module 1: Introduction and Module 2: Suicide-related terms Discuss the goal of the clinician´s guide Provide an overview of Latinos in the US including statistics on suicide and attempts Define terms related to suicidal behaviors

  This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics. The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events. The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt suicide. This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population. It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention. The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention.   This master class series is aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations.   Objectives: Module 1: Introduction and Module 2: Suicide-related terms Discuss the goal of the clinician´s guide Provide an overview of Latinos in the US including statistics on suicide and attempts Define terms related to suicidal behaviors

  This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics. The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events. The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt suicide. This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population. It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention. The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention.   This master class series is aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations.   Objectives Module 3: Risk and Protective Factors Discuss risk factors for suicidal behaviors including culture-related risk factors such as acculturative stress Address the importance of identifying protective factors including cultural values that may serve as protection for suicidal behaviors Provide strategies for exploring risk and protective factors for suicidal behaviors

  This clinicians’ guide addresses one of the largest cultural groups in the United States today, persons of Latin American ancestry commonly referred to as Latinos or Hispanics. The guide considers suicide as part of social phenomena but our attention will be to suicides and suicide attempts as deeply psychological, emotional events. The emphasis is on what drives some people to think about suicide, to plan a suicide, and to attempt suicide. This guide is intended for mental health professionals and other health providers who are dedicated to delivering services to the diverse Hispanic or Latino population. It discusses suicidal behavior, demographics of the Hispanic population, risks for suicide, and prevention, intervention, recovery, and postvention. The guide includes two case studies of suicide attempts by teenage girls and questions for clinicians to consider in the assessment and intervention.   This master class series is aimed at developing the skills of mental health professionals working with Latino populations who may be at risk for suicidal behaviors. The Clinician´s Guide includes 5 modules that discuss and define relevant terms as well as the role of culture in understanding and treating suicidal behaviors among Latinos. The guide also discusses issues related to prevention, risk and protective factors, assessment and intervention as well as school-related considerations.   Objectives Module 3: Risk and Protective Factors Discuss risk factors for suicidal behaviors including culture-related risk factors such as acculturative stress Address the importance of identifying protective factors including cultural values that may serve as protection for suicidal behaviors Provide strategies for exploring risk and protective factors for suicidal behaviors

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE This 60-minute webinar addresses suicide risk assessment, prevention, and treatment. At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: Describe two key aspects of the Aeschi model of psychotherapeutic care for suicidal patients Define management vs. treatment of suicidality  Describe the therapeutic value of the clinical narrative ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Presentation slides References cited Public domain videos cited by Dr. Comtois; courtesy of the United States Department of Veteran Affairs: Video: "Support to move past MST and hopelessness" (A female veteran's story) Video: "I absolutely love what I do" (A male veteran's story) Highlights & Key Concepts document Center for Suicide Prevention and Recovery (CSPAR) Suicide prevention resources from the Veterans Administration Suicide prevention resources compiled by the Northwest MHTTC Suicide prevention month IDEAS FOR ACTION by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center UW Forefront Suicide Prevention   FACILITATOR   Katherine (Kate) Comtois, PhD, MPH Katherine (Kate) Comtois is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington. She has developed or adapted interventions to improve care and clinician willingness to work with suicidal patients including Caring Contacts, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), and Preventing Addiction Related Suicide (PARS), and Accepting the Challenges of Employment and Self-Sufficiency (DBT-ACES), a program to assist psychiatrically disabled individuals find and maintain living wage employment. Dr. Comtois is the director of the Center for Suicide Prevention and Recovery (CSPAR) whose mission is to promote the recovery of suicidal individuals and the effectiveness and well-being of the clinicians and families who care for them by conducting rigorous and ecologically valid research, developing innovative interventions, improving policies, systems and environments of care, and providing expert training and consultation. In addition to clinical research, she founded the Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) and is the PI and Director of the Military Suicide Research Consortium Dissemination and Implementation core.  These organizations focus on disseminating and implementing innovative, evidence-based interventions in the systems that need them.

The National American Indian and Alaska Native School Mental Health Program would like to share with you this fact sheet which includes data on suicide rates among Native people, as well as helpful resources on programs that are raising awareness and reducing risk among Indigenous nations. Please take a few moments to explore this document. It is available at the link below to download.

  Life at Your Pace: Tips for Navigating Campus Life During COVID; HHS Region 8 Access slide deck with green download button above Click here to watch a recording of the session   Session Description   As college campuses begin reopening, students, faculty, and administrators face unique mental health challenges and opportunities resulting from individual and community experiences accrued over the past year during the pandemic. Given the uncertainty of the upcoming year, addressing student's mental health is more important than ever.    The Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center recognizes and supports the need for more conversations about college mental health and maintaining good mental health practices while successfully navigating campus life during COVID. During this training, participants will learn about tips and strategies that have proven successful at college campuses across the country.    Trainer Alison Malmon, Founder and Executive Director of Active Minds

  The Great Lakes MHTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.   SAMHSA's Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools is a toolkit aimed at being part of a nationwide effort to help the one out of every eleven high school students who attempted suicide in the U.S., according to the CDC Youth Risk Behavioral Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2009–2019.   In this workshop, school districts will be introduced to this toolkit and learn how to design and implement strategies to prevent suicide and prioritize mental health for all students. Participants will have the opportunity to assess their district's current suicide prevention policies and readiness for change. Participants will also learn about a year-long school-based suicide prevention learning collaborative that will help school districts in HHS Region 5 build capacity for measurable and sustainable change using the NIATx model of process improvement.    Learning objectives 1. Learn the key components of a school-based suicide prevention plan 2. Learn the prevention strategies that are responsive to the cultural and language needs of students in their district 3. Assess current district suicide prevention policies and readiness for change      Speaker: Tandra Rutledge Tandra M. Rutledge is a mental health and suicide prevention educator, advocate, and consultant. She is currently the Director of Healthcare Systems Initiatives for Project 2025, a national initiative of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention to reduce the suicide rate by 20% by the year 2025. A highly regarded and trusted mental health expert, Tandra dismantles stigma and cultivates resilience through a social justice and racial equity lens. She transforms individuals, groups, and organizations by fostering deep, honest connections with diverse audiences including healthcare professionals, educators, law enforcement, employers, faith-based organizations, youth, parents, colleges and universities and many others.        

  Addressing the Role Stigma Plays in Death by Suicide - Workshop Wednesday Session Access slide deck with the green download button above Recording coming soon   Session Description   September is National Suicide Prevention Month. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention states that death by suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that death by suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Addressing the role stigma plays in preventing people from seeking mental health support and treatment is a critical step in helping to reduce death by suicide in our communities. Join our trainer Debra Brownlee, as she examines the nature of stigma, how to talk about it in your community, and strategies for addressing and overcoming it when seeking mental health support and treatment.   After attending this session, participants can expect to:   Increase their understanding of the role that stigma plays in the access of mental health services. Provide skills related to communication when helping those struggling with mental health symptoms. Provide the opportunity for dialog regarding effective approaches and intervention strategies when assisting people who are struggling with mental health symptoms.    Trainer Debra Brownlee, PhD

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE September is Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month. Northwest MHTTC brings you our newest events, resources from the TTC network, and ways to promote suicide prevention and recovery from substance use disorder.  Terms of use and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) disclosure statement

  "Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) occurs in up to 20% of adolescents and represents a risk factor for suicidal behavior; although, many who engage in NSSI are not suicidal. Suicide attempts and deaths continue to rise within adolescents across the United States and represents the 2nd leading cause of death in this age group. The high rates of NSSI and suicidal thoughts/behaviors requires that the professionals who work with adolescents are knowledgeable about these behaviors and equipped to provide best-practice care to help reduce and manage risk.” The guide is based on material presented by Dr. Jennifer Muehlenkamp on September 29, 2020 for WAFCA-CE, with funding support from MHTTC. WAFCA serves as the Wisconsin partner for the Great Lakes Mental Health Technology Transfer Center.  Click "Download" above to download the two-sided PDF.                     

About this Resource:  The Southeast MHTTC Newsletter, published every two months, highlights upcoming events and recently released products as well as shares information on available resources from SAMHSA and the MHTTC network.  The September 2021 issue raises awareness of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, highlights Southeast MHTTC upcoming events and recent products, and provides national resources available to connect individuals to needed treatment and support. 

  Implementing Farm Stress Grab-n-Go Kits in HHS Region 7 and 8 Communities Access slide deck with green download button above Click here to watch the recording Farm stress is the stress experienced by farmers and their families due to the unique agricultural work environment. This past year created escalating levels of mental health distress for everyone. In response to the pandemic, farming and ranching communities already dealing with high stress levels saw incidents of drug and alcohol abuse rapidly increase, as well as rising numbers of death by suicide.   In response to the increasing need for mental health tools designed to address the specific needs of farm and ranching communities, the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), the Mid-America Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), and the Mountain Plains MHTTC collaborated to develop a set of easy-to-use ("Grab-n-Go") presentations and flyers for use by extension offices and behavioral health providers in farm communities. Based on interviews with extension agents in HHS Region 7 and HHS Region 8, the team identified four key areas of concern: mental health awareness, stigma, co-occurring disorders, and death by suicide.     During this presentation, participants will learn who could benefit from using these free resources, how to use the resources effectively, and a brief background on the conversations and research that spurred the resources' development.   After attending this session, participants can expect to:   Learn why the Farm Stress Grab-n-Go Kits were made and who can benefit from using these resources.  Learn how to effectively use the Farm Stress Grab-n-Go Kits, as well as other MHTTC Farm Stress resources.  Learn how to initiate difficult community conversations about mental health issues to support community-based solutions.    Trainers Brandy Clarke, PhD, LP, Director, Region 7 Mid-America MHTTC Erika Holliday, MPH, CHES, Sr. Program Support Coordinator, Region 7 ATTC, Maridee Shogren, DNP, CNM, CLC, University of North Dakota, Region 8 MHTTC and ATTC Genevieve Berry, Project Manager, Region 8 MHTTC 

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. among people ages 10-24 years old and has disproportionately increased in Hispanic and Latinx adolescents and young adults, who have elevated rates of suicidal behaviors. This factsheet will provide information about trends in suicide, suicidal thoughts, and behaviors, identifying suicide-related risk in Hispanic and Latinx youth, and review evidence-based practices to screen for risk across various settings. 

      Hard copies of the toolkit are also available. If you'd prefer a hard copy, please reach out to us at [email protected]. Farm stress is the stress experienced by farmers and their families due to the unique agricultural work environment. The global health pandemic has had a substantial effect on farm stress. Farming and ranching communities already dealing with high stress levels saw incidents of drug and alcohol abuse rapidly increase, as well as rising numbers of death by suicide.   In response to the increasing need for mental health tools designed to address the specific needs of farm and ranching communities, the Mid-America Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), the Mid-America Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), and the Mountain Plains MHTTC collaborated to develop a set of easy-to-use ("Grab-n-Go") presentations and flyers for use by extension offices and behavioral health providers in farm communities. Based on interviews with extension agents in HHS Region 7 and HHS Region 8, the team identified four key areas of concern: mental health awareness, stigma, co-occurring disorders, and death by suicide.   Authors Erika Holliday, MPH, CHES, Sr. Program Support Coordinator, Region 7 ATTC Mogens Bill Baerentzen, PhD, Serious Mental Illness Program Director, Region 7 Mid-America MHTTC Stephanie Smith Kellen, MA, PLMHP, Pre-Doctoral Psychology Intern Region 7 MHTTC Brandy Clarke, PhD, LP, Director, Region 7 Mid-America MHTTC Maridee Shogren, DNP, CNM, CLC, University of North Dakota, Region 8 MHTTC and ATTC Genevieve Berry, Project Manager, Region 8 MHTTC  

  Building Resilience Among Providers During a Global Health Pandemic (4-Part Series) Access slide decks and toolkit with the green download link above Session descriptions and recordings below   Providing physical or behavioral healthcare to others during the global health pandemic can lead to increased levels of stress, fear, anxiety, burnout, frustration, and other strong emotions. It is imperative that physical and behavioral healthcare providers recognize personal signs of mental fatigue, are given supports in their organization to ensure continued productivity and quality care, and are provided with tools to learn how to cope and build resilience. This training series has been developed to encourage self-care and to assist in building resilience among physical and behavioral healthcare providers amidst the global health pandemic.   Session One: Understanding the Impact of a Public Health Crisis on Medical and Behavioral Healthcare Providers   This session will outline common terms, introduce compassion fatigue, and discuss the impact of moral injury and traumatic stress. Speakers will also present a toolkit that has been developed to assist providers and their organizations in building resiliency.   Watch the recording here   Session Two: Home Life, Clinical Care, and Work Relationships: Causes of Stress and Resiliency Building for Providers   Presenters will discuss home life stressors, challenges of managing work relationships during a time of crisis, and the current issues facing providers as they work to provide quality care during a public health emergency. This session will also offer specific solutions and key resources for fostering resilience and balancing demands of home life, clinical care, and professional relationships during a pandemic.   Watch the recording here   Session Three: Preventing and Responding to Grief, Loss, and Secondary Traumatic Stress among Providers   Providers are experiencing loss of normalcy, loss of routine, and other ambiguous loss. Many may also be dealing with grief over the loss of a loved one, or the loss of numerous patients. Compounding this sense of loss and grief, providers commonly carry their patients’ stories with them. It is important that providers connect with their patients. If providers feel nothing, then they cannot connect as strongly and may not be able to optimize patient care. However, this connection, especially during a pandemic, can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS). This session will address signs and symptoms of grief and loss among providers that have been present during the pandemic, and will describe secondary traumatic stress. Presenters will also offer ways to prevent and respond to these experiences at both an organizational and individual level.   Watch the recording here   Session Four: Promoting Resiliency at an Organizational Level   Research indicates that, although efforts to promote resilience at an individual level are important, addressing characteristics of the external environment are at least as important. Absence of organizational and leadership support for provider distress during COVID-19 may adversely impact organizational resilience, patient safety, and staff retention. Providers cannot sustain their own well-being without the support of their leadership. Targets for improvement at the organizational level include ensuring:   Organizational efficiency through identifying inefficient workplace processes. A transformational work culture. Correction of any negative leadership behaviors.   Watch the recording here

  Addressing Suicidality When Crisis Shows Up in Practice; HHS Region 8 Access slide deck with the green download link above Recording coming soon   Whether you have been practicing for ten months, or ten years, providing responsive and client-centered care for individuals who are in crisis and experiencing suicidal thoughts can present unique challenges for any clinician. During this three-hour training, Dr. Mita Johnson provided a detailed review of ways to support your client and yourself when suicidality and crisis show up in your practice.    Learning Objectives:   Review current evidence-based clinical practices that support interventions for people experiencing suicidal ideation.  Learn strategies for self-regulation when caring for a client in crisis.  Explore ways to maintain a therapeutic connection with a client in crisis.  Practice de-escalation strategies to support clients in crisis.    Trainer  Mita Johnson, Ed.D., NCC, LPC, LMFT, LAC, MAC, SAP, ACS, MFT-S, BCTP-II Dr. Mita M. Johnson has been practicing in the world of counseling, and addictions counseling, for the past 30 years. Dr. Johnson has extensive experience as an addiction counselor and brings that expertise and leadership in advancing ethical practice. She is the President of NAADAC and is a member of the Executive Committee. Her academic background includes an Ed.D in counselor education and supervision. Dr. Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Masters Addiction Counselor, and Substance Abuse Professional.