OVERVIEW

Suicidal Behavior is organized by Homestead Schools, Inc. This course has been approved for a maximum of 8 Contact Hours.

Course Outline:
Over 30,000 Americans and almost one million persons worldwide die by suicide each year, making it one of the leading causes of death throughout the lifespan. Suicide attempts outnumber deaths by suicide by a ratio of at least 25 to 1 and those who attempt suicide are at high risk of later death by suicide or of additional suicide attempts. Suicide risk is one of the most frequent reasons for admissions to inpatient psychiatric units. All of these facts make the treatment of those at risk for suicide a pressing priority. Research over the past two decades has led to the development of excellent empirically supported treatment methods. This book aims to increase clinicians’ access to empirically supported interventions for suicidal behavior, with the hope that these methods will become the standard in clinical practice.

Learning Objectives:
After completing this course you’ll be able to:
• List the risk factors for suicide.
• Describe the NSSP and list one of the critical objectives.
• State the percent of suicides in the U.S. that are associated with mental illness or substance abuse disorders.
• Define a suicide attempt, according to Silverman et al., 2007b.
• Compare an aborted suicide attempt and an interrupted suicide attempt.
• Discuss the reliance on an individual’s self-reporting, regarding his intent to do self-harm or a suicidal attempt.
• Compare suicidality and self-harm.
• State the ratio of female and male suicide deaths in older adults.
• Compare the methods of suicide among males and females.
• State the ratio of suicide to suicide attempts between young adults and older adults.
• State the percent of students, grade 9-12, who had seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months. (Table 5)
• State the percent of former or current U.S. military personnel who die by suicide.
• Discuss the “course” of suicide.
• Discuss the work of Thomas Joiner (2005) regarding desensitization.
• State the two most significant comorbidities which impact suicide.
• List the various drugs present at the time of suicide, according to the National Violent Death Reporting System.
• Discuss the longitudinal study done in New Zealand regarding pathways to suicide.
• Discuss methods of assessment regarding suicide.
• Compare suicide of identical and non-identical twins, according to Roy, Rylander, and Sarchiapone (1997).
• Discuss the genetic contribution to suicide.
• Discuss the research of Shneidman.
• Define cognitive sensitization, according to Beck.
• Discuss suicidal desire and suicidal capacity according to Joiner.
• Discuss the link between mental illness and suicide.
• Define social isolation and social connection.
• Describe risk.
• Discuss the data from England regarding suicide following discharge from the hospital.
• Discuss the findings of JCAHO regarding critical incidents.
• State the first phase of treatment according to Linehan and Rudd et al.
• Discuss the goal of therapy according to Linehan (1993).
• Discuss the value of telephones and hotlines.
• List two services therapists can rely on being available in hospital EDs.
• Discuss social isolation and the remarks of Joiner (2005).
• Describe a no-suicide contract.
• List the four types of skills taught in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and briefly describe each.
• Describe bibliotherapy.
• Describe non-demanding brief caring letters as described by Motto and Bostrum, 2001.
• Discuss re-evaluation of the treatment plan after suicide.
• Discuss balancing validation and problem solving of DBT.
• Discuss the high risk adolescent population according to D’Augelli et al.,2005.
• Discuss the findings of the Institute of Medicine after acute treatment for suicidal patients.
• Describe “therapy interfering behavior” according to Linehan, 1993.
• Compare suicide rates among various ethnic and cultural groups.