Changes in Practice following a Continuing Education Training on Suicide Assessment and Intervention: Training Participants’ Perspectives

ABSTRACT

In the United States, suicide rates have risen 30% from 1999 to 2016. To decrease suicide rates, mental health professionals must use best practices to assess, manage, and intervene with clients with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This qualitative research study (N = 60) interviewed participants of a one-day continuing education training titled Suicide Assessment and Intervention Training for Mental Health Professionals (SAIT) to explore if and how they changed their practice as a result of the training. Most participants (N = 54) described changes in practice. The major themes involved conversations about suicide, responses to client disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and relationships with clients.

KEYWORDS:

• Suicide prevention
• suicide training
• continuing education
• suicidal ideation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.