In 2017, the age-adjusted suicide death rate increased to 14 per 100,000 individuals.1 Five of the 8 Region IV states have an age-adjusted suicide rate that is higher than the U.S. rate, with Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama all having rates above 15 per 100,000.2 The efforts to prevent suicide occur at all levels of society, from individuals, to facilities and schools, to policy. The Southeast MHTTC helps clinicians, agencies and states to employ system-level approaches to combat suicide in the southeast.
Our 2019 Needs Assessment revealed that all eight HHS Region IV states consider suicide prevention a key priority for their mental health services. Most of the state mental health agencies currently have initiatives for suicide prevention and state suicide prevention plans. The remaining suicide prevention needs for our Region IV states include expansion of services and strategies to address suicide risk management in mental health facilities, as well as methods to integrate suicide prevention into school-based mental health initiatives.
Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming Suicide Risk Assessment and Management trainings in your state or click here to inquire about scheduling a training.
Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality webinar: Dr. David Jobes, the founder and developer of CAMS, presents on this evidence-based suicide-focused clinical framework for effectively treating suicidal patients. Recording and slide deck are available for download.
Suicide Prevention in Healthcare Settings webinar: Dr. Michael Hogan examines suicide prevention in healthcare settings, comparing the progress made in reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths with the lack of progress in reducing suicide deaths. The available tools for “suicide care” have comparable cost and effectiveness to CVD interventions and a focus should be placed on improving use of these effective tools. Recording and slide deck are available for download.
Suicide Risk Assessment Part 1 is a training for mental health clinicians who provide counseling and assessment in a variety of settings. The training demonstrates ways clinicians can recognize, assess, and intervene when working with at-risk clients. Recording and slide deck are available for download.
Suicide Risk Assessment Part 2 is an interactive training targeted to Master's level and licensed mental health clinicians who provide counseling and/or assessment in a variety of settings. This training highlights the importance of suicide risk assessment and crisis response planning, as well as demonstrates ways clinicians can recognize, assess, and intervene when working with at-risk clients.
Suicide Risk Assessment & Crisis Response Planning Infographic: This infographic assists mental health providers in identifying components of a suicide risk assessment, best practices of documentation and key elements of an effective crisis and safety response plan. This infographic is meant to accompany the on-demand recordings of Suicide Risk Assessment Part 1 and Part 2.
Spotlight on Suicide article: A brief article reviewing the current suicide landscape, risk and protective factors, and useful tools and resources clinicians can use to assist someone in crisis.
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center, funded by SAMHSA, provides information about effective programs and strategies to prevent suicide.
1. Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Suicide deaths in the United States; Accessed March 4, 2020.
2. Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation. Age-adjusted suicide rate. State Health Facts 2016; Accessed February 11, 2019.
