Despite increased efforts to prevent suicide, it remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2020, almost 46,000 people died by suicide (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020).
While people of all ages and backgrounds are impacted by suicide, some groups are at greater risk than others. For instance (Ehlman et al., 2022):
- Adults between the ages of 45 and 65 years old have one of the highest suicide rates in the U.S.
- Men are 3 to 4 times more likely to die by suicide than women.
In 2020, White men between the ages of 45 and 65 years old accounted for 23% of suicide deaths in the U.S. (CDC, 2020).
You will likely encounter clients at risk for suicide. It is important for you to know how to detect their risk and deliver interventions that can reduce the likelihood they will engage in suicidal behavior.
In this course, you will apply your existing knowledge of suicide prevention to a simulated therapy session with an at-risk, middle-aged White man.
You will respond to the client at different points in the session. You will decide between two response options, and then see how your selection impacts his level of risk and outcome. Supervisory input will also help guide you through this simulation exercise.
The purpose of this course is to test and reinforce your existing knowledge about suicide prevention. You should review our other suicide prevention courses if you:
- Want to learn detailed and specific suicide prevention methods
- Have not received in-depth training on suicide risk assessment and intervention
After learning about evidence-based approaches for reducing suicide risk, you can then use this simulation to reinforce your knowledge.
The goal of this course is to provide addictions, behavioral health counseling, marriage and family therapy, nursing, psychology, and social work professionals in health and human services settings with an opportunity to apply your existing knowledge to assess and intervene with an at-risk adult.
Note: Bear in mind that due to time constraints, this course presents a highly abbreviated version of what a suicide risk assessment would involve. To determine risk and plan interventions, you would normally also:
- Review multiple sources of information
- Use standardized screening measures
- Consult with a supervisor or colleagues as needed
- Do an in-depth inquiry