Sally Spencer-Thomas – Suicide Assessment and Intervention: Assess Suicidal Ideation and Effectively Intervene in Crisis Situations with Confidence, Composure and Sensitivity

Outline

Suicide: Who, When, How and WhereSuicide: Who, When, How and Where

• Addiction recoveryAddiction recovery
• Trauma-informed careTrauma-informed care
• Populations with multiple risk factorsPopulations with multiple risk factors
• Suicide attempt survivors – learning from their experienceSuicide attempt survivors – learning from their experience
• Upstream clinical practices: reaching people before the point of crisisUpstream clinical practices: reaching people before the point of crisis

Elicit Key Information from Suicidal Clients: Assessment and Level of RiskElicit Key Information from Suicidal Clients: Assessment and Level of Risk

• Implicit and explicit expressions of suicidal thoughtsImplicit and explicit expressions of suicidal thoughts
• Communicating caring: Language to impart compassion and avoid stigmaCommunicating caring: Language to impart compassion and avoid stigma
• Suicide risk assessment Suicide risk assessment
  • SAFE-TSAFE-T
  • PATH WARMPATH WARM
  • Ideation, plan, means, intentIdeation, plan, means, intent
  • Level of riskLevel of risk

Formulate Treatment Plans that Help Clients Regulate Emotions and Make Them Feel Valued and ConnectedFormulate Treatment Plans that Help Clients Regulate Emotions and Make Them Feel Valued and Connected

• Collaborative safety planning (or “Why Suicide Contracting is Dead”)Collaborative safety planning (or “Why Suicide Contracting is Dead”)
• Proactive approaches to decrease the likelihood of suicidal despairProactive approaches to decrease the likelihood of suicidal despair
• Multi-system approaches – support systemsMulti-system approaches – support systems
• Evidence-based treatments: Evidence-based treatments:
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Cognitive restructuring strategiesCognitive restructuring strategies
    • Emotional regulation exercisesEmotional regulation exercises
    • Behavioral ActivationBehavioral Activation
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy
    • How to organize a skills training groupHow to organize a skills training group
    • Tips for phone coachingTips for phone coaching
  • Relapse prevention plansRelapse prevention plans
  • Reduce access to lethal meansReduce access to lethal means
  • Working with specific populations: veterans, the elderlyWorking with specific populations: veterans, the elderly

Confidently Handle Crisis Situations Confidently Handle Crisis Situations

• Conduct a behavioral chain analysisConduct a behavioral chain analysis
• Validating reasons for suicideValidating reasons for suicide
• Identify reasons for livingIdentify reasons for living
• Use distress tolerance and CBT skills to manage a crisisUse distress tolerance and CBT skills to manage a crisis
• When and how to hospitalizeWhen and how to hospitalize

Suicide Grief Support and Innovative Suicide-Specific CareSuicide Grief Support and Innovative Suicide-Specific Care

• Implement Suicide Grief Support Implement Suicide Grief 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 compassion Access and Reclaim compassion
    • Somatic resourcingSomatic resourcing
    • Remembered resourcesRemembered resources
    • Assess clients self-talkAssess clients self-talk

ReInvest in a Life Worth Living: Rekindle the Desires of the HeartReInvest in a Life Worth Living: Rekindle the Desires of the Heart

• The PIE of life – brainstorm possibilities of growthThe PIE of life – brainstorm possibilities of growth
• Cultivate social connection and re-engagement Cultivate social connection and re-engagement
  • Support and grief groupsSupport and grief groups
  • Toxic peopleToxic people
  • Working with families impacted by lossWorking with families impacted by loss
• 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

Please Note: PESI is not affiliated or associated with Marsha M. Linehan, PhD, ABPP, or her organizations.Please Note: PESI is not affiliated or associated with Marsha M. Linehan, PhD, ABPP, or her organizations.