One component of a Zero Suicide framework is a competent, confident, and well-trained workforce, regardless of role or responsibility.
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Tools
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Videos
David Covington, Co-lead of the Zero Suicide Advisory Group, highlights the potential impact of training the entire workforce.
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Videos
Virna Little, Senior Vice President—Psychosocial Services at the Institute for Family Health, talks about prioritizing training in suicide care.
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Videos
David Covington, Co-lead of the Zero Suicide Advisory Group, asserts that all staff need skills to interact with people in care at risk of suicide.
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Tools
Suicide Care Training Options lists suicide care training programs appropriate for clinical and non-clinical staff at health and behavioral health care agencies. Three new trainings were added on February and another in June 2020.
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Tools
This letter can be used and adapted to request that staff complete the Zero Suicide Workforce Survey. It should be sent from the chief executive officer, or someone else in a position of leadership, to all staff members.
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Readings
Oordt, M. S., Jobes, D. A., Fonseca, V. P., & Schmidt, S. M. (2009). Training mental health professionals to assess and manage suicidal behavior: Can provider confidence and practice behaviors be altered?. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 39(1), 21–32.
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Readings
Schmitz, W. M., Jr, Allen, M. H., Feldman, B. N., Gutin, N. J., Jahn, D. R., Kleespies, P. M., . . . Simpson, S. (2012). Preventing suicide through improved training in suicide risk assessment and care: An American Association of Suicidology Task Force report addressing serious gaps in U.S. mental health training. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 42(3), 292–304.
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Readings
Rudd , M., Cukrowicz, K. C., & Bryan, C. J. (2008). Core competencies in suicide risk assessment and management: Implications for supervision. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 2(4), 219–228.
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Readings
Pisani , A. R., Cross, W. F., & Gould, M. S. (2011). The assessment and management of suicide risk: State of workshop education. Suicide and Life Threatening Behavior, 41(3), 255–276.