Sally Spencer-Thomas – 2-Day Comprehensive Suicide Risk Assessment & Intervention: Work with Clients with Compassion and Confidence

Outline

OVERCOME BIAS AND FEAR OVERCOME BIAS AND FEAR

Prepare to do suicide work with compassion and confidence Prepare to do suicide work with compassion and confidence

• Self-Reflection: Time to unpack our own baggageSelf-Reflection: Time to unpack our own baggage
• CountertransferenceCountertransference
• Our own history with suicideOur own history with suicide

HOT TOPICS IN SUICIDOLOGY HOT TOPICS IN SUICIDOLOGY

Evaluate the latest developments and their impact on assessment and intervention Evaluate the latest developments and their impact on assessment and intervention

• The latest data, and what to do with itThe latest data, and what to do with it
• Mental health and suicideMental health and suicide
• Alcohol and suicideAlcohol and suicide
• Opioids and suicideOpioids and suicide
• Additional forms of trauma and suicideAdditional forms of trauma and suicide
• Aspiring to Zero SuicideAspiring to Zero Suicide
• Why “Means Matter”Why “Means Matter”
• Understanding the many forms of the suicidal mindUnderstanding the many forms of the suicidal mind
• Soul exhaustionSoul exhaustion

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT & TREATMENT COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT & TREATMENT

Determine where to enter the prevention stream, and how to navigate successfully Determine where to enter the prevention stream, and how to navigate successfully

• Upstream, midstream, and downstream approachesUpstream, midstream, and downstream approaches
• Build resilience and crisis inoculationBuild resilience and crisis inoculation
• Earlier identification and triageEarlier identification and triage
• Trauma-informed careTrauma-informed care
• Learn from the experiences of suicide attempt and loss survivorsLearn from the experiences of suicide attempt and loss survivors

RISK ASSESSMENT RISK ASSESSMENT

Elicit key information from clients Elicit key information from clients

• The many paths to suicideThe many paths to suicide
• Communicate caring: Language to impart compassion and avoid stigmaCommunicate caring: Language to impart compassion and avoid stigma
• Suicide risk assessment Suicide risk assessment
  • SAFE-TSAFE-T
  • IS PATH WARMIS PATH WARM
  • Ideation, plan, means, intentIdeation, plan, means, intent
  • Level of riskLevel of risk
• Standardized assessment tools to augment clinical judgmentStandardized assessment tools to augment clinical judgment
• Obtaining collateral informationObtaining collateral information
• Types of questions to uncover suicidal ideation Types of questions to uncover suicidal ideation
  • What if they say “No”?What if they say “No”?
  • What if they say “Yes”?What if they say “Yes”?
• Behavior chain analysisBehavior chain analysis
• Why “No Suicide” contracts are deadWhy “No Suicide” contracts are dead
• Best practices in risk assessmentBest practices in risk assessment

COLLABORATIVE SAFETY AGREEMENTS AND WELLNESS PLANNING COLLABORATIVE SAFETY AGREEMENTS AND WELLNESS PLANNING

Help clients regulate emotions and feel safe, valued and connected Help clients regulate emotions and feel safe, valued and connected

• Set up a safety agreement that is more likely to be followedSet up a safety agreement that is more likely to be followed
• Reduce access to lethal means (C.A.L.M.)Reduce access to lethal means (C.A.L.M.)
• The “Stop, Drop, and Roll” of suicide safety planningThe “Stop, Drop, and Roll” of suicide safety planning
• Treatment strategies built on preserving choice and dignity Treatment strategies built on preserving choice and dignity
  • Cognitive Behavioral TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Dialectical Behavior TherapyDialectical Behavior Therapy
  • Relapse prevention plansRelapse prevention plans
  • When and how to hospitalizeWhen and how to hospitalize

MAKING MEANING MAKING MEANING

Help clients reinvest in a life worth living Help clients reinvest in a life worth living

• The PIE of life – brainstorm possibilities of growthThe PIE of life – brainstorm possibilities of growth
• Narrative psychology and the power of storytellingNarrative psychology and the power of storytelling
• Cultivate social connection and re-engagementCultivate social connection and re-engagement
• Choice and perspectiveChoice and perspective
• Foster gratitude and a spirit of contentment after lossFoster gratitude and a spirit of contentment after loss
• Measurements of post-traumatic growthMeasurements of post-traumatic growth

SAFE AND EFFECTIVE SUICIDE GRIEF & TRAUMA RESPONSE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE SUICIDE GRIEF & TRAUMA RESPONSE

Implement suicide grief and trauma support Implement suicide grief and trauma support

• Understand the unique nature of suicide griefUnderstand the unique nature of suicide grief
• Peer-based support: Connect clients to other survivors of lossPeer-based support: Connect clients to other survivors of loss
• Access and reclaim compassionAccess and reclaim compassion