| Education will always be the best form of prevention in addressing the preventable death of suicide. Suicidal risk is all around us; there are things we can all do as preventing suicide is within the capability of anyone willing to do so. Recognizing and responding to suicidal risk and addressing this threat to life is the first step in moving toward the next level of care to proceed with the intervention needed to save a life.
Though suicide is complex and multifaceted, the common risk and protective factors grant us the opportunity to have safe, honest and meaningful conversations to prevent suicide in a responsible, competent and supportive manner. Supporting students through crisis, addressing the accessibility to lethal means when suicide may be present, and working together to create a plan of safety can and does save lives; it can be the difference between life and death.
Suicide is preventable, but only when we know what to do and only when we’re willing to acknowledge the potential threat to life exists. Having a multi-tiered comprehensive plan and approach is critical for student support. Understanding the importance of taking measures to increase safety and limit access to lethal means is critical to prevent suicide, regardless of how uncomfortable the conversation may feel for those in supporting roles.
What knowledge will participants gain? Participants will recognize the contributing circumstances to the possibility of suicide, acknowledging measures that can be taken to increase safety and create a safe place to have a life-saving conversation utilizing multi-tiered levels of help and support, including conversations and planning to limit access to lethal means.
What new activities will participants be able to use in their everyday practice as a result of the session? Participants will have increased confidence in their ability to have a safe, honest and meaningful conversation about suicide specifically, to greater understand the importance of a multi-tiered approach and the importance of incorporating the conversation of accessibility to multiple lethal means into their safety planning process.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand the greater need for a multi-tiered layer system support to prevent suicide in at risk individuals.
- Specify ways to better interact with individuals with suicide risk and provide for steps for the next level of care and intervention needed to prevent suicide.
- Increase confidence in facilitating the imperative conversation about accessibility to multiple lethal means and collaborative safety planning with those at risk of suicide.
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