Safety Planning and Means Reduction in Large Health Care Organizations
Safety planning and means reduction are integral parts of comprehensive suicide care. Clinicians should collaboratively develop safety plans with all persons identified as at risk for suicide, immediately after identifying the risk. The plan should include steps for lethal means safety, balanced with respect for legal and ethical requirements under federal and state laws. In order to develop effective safety plans and organizational policies for lethal means assessment and counseling, training for staff is typically necessary and the input of those with lived experience is essential.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to (1) identify safety planning and lethal means reduction as part of a comprehensive Zero Suicide approach; (2) discuss ways to maximize the effectiveness of a safety plan; (3) develop an organizational policy for lethal means reduction; and (4) explain the importance of input from people with lived experience during safety planning and means reduction policy development.