Reducing Access to Lethal Means for Clinicians
Overview
This training, Reducing Access to Lethal Means for Clinicians, focuses on how to reduce the risk of individuals killing themselves by (1) increasing the time between the activating thought and acting on it and (2) decreasing the lethality of the means they have access to. Reducing access to lethal means is considered one element of standard care treatment for those at risk of suicide, according to the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (2018). During this training, you will learn about the elements of lethality, the varying lethality of different means, and the ways in which to assist clients and families to restrict access to various means. Considerations for restricting means during the COVID-19 pandemic are included. Through experiential exercises, you will practice how to assess for risk, how to determine which means are readily accessible, and how to counsel individuals (and their families) through restriction of access.
Learning objectives
- Understand the elements that determine the lethality of a means
- Rank the lethality of different means
- Identify candidates for counseling concerning reducing access to means versus immediate hospitalization through risk assessment questions
- Identify restriction options for various means
- Effectively use counseling techniques to work through restricting means
Training times
This training is provided at the time(s) and in the format(s) shown below.