Need Statement 

Suicide is a leading cause of death in youth nationally, as well as within the state of Texas (Curtin & Heron, 2019; Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2020). There is increasing recognition from pediatric providers and hospitals that the nation is facing an epidemic of youth admitted to emergency departments (EDs) because of suicidal behaviors, and this increased dramatically during COVID (51% higher in winter 2021, compared to winter 2019; Yard, et al. 2021). Primary care clinics are ideal settings to identify and intervene during acute periods of increased suicidal ideation, as youth are more connected to their healthcare home and can be more readily identified as in need of services (Van Cleave, et al. 2018, Cama, et al. 2020). In fact, primary care physicians evaluate 70% of adolescents each year (Newacheck et al., 1999), including 45% of adolescent suicide victims within one month before completed suicide (Luoma et al., 2002). Despite mandates for primary care providers to address emotional and behavioral health, they often lack the training and expertise required (Olson et al., 2001; Taliaferro et al., 2013). While evidence-based outpatient interventions are available, many suicidal youth who present to primary care are not adequately connected to these services. Therefore, it is vital to develop brief interventions that provide promotion of evidence-based skills that can be used in primary care settings where suicidal youth are likely to present. Such interventions would likely decrease referrals to EDs and inpatient care. Brief interventions have been most robustly tested in ED settings, despite holding strong potential for use across a wide variety of care settings, such as primary care. This training will detail how to implement SAFETY-A, an evidence-based intervention for suicidal youth presenting to primary care physicians.

Target Audience

Primary Care Physicians, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers and Other Healthcare Professionals.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the conference, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the statements that are incompatible with suicidal thoughts and behavior in youth.
• Describe ways to improve assessment and management of suicidality in a primary care setting.
• Create a developmentally informed safety plan, drawing from information obtained during the feeling thermometer and strengths activities.
• Identify and list the methods for healthy communication between caregivers and youth to support safety in the home environment.

Educational Methods

Lecture and Skill Based Workshop. 

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For questions, contact Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti caitlin.pinciotti@bcm.edu

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SUPPORT

This CME/CE activity is supported by an educational grant from the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC) Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant UTAUS-SUB00000577.