Suicide Prevention Toolkit
We are committed to zero suicides. We recognize the important role you play in our members’ lives through their visits to your practice. We are committed to partnering with you by offering resources to help integrate suicide prevention strategies into your appointments with patients.
Suicide Prevention Websites
In addition to the resources below, we encourage you to explore the resources on these websites for a deeper dive into suicide prevention techniques you can implement in your practice.
- Zero Suicide Initiative – The Zero Suicide Initiative is a commitment to suicide prevention in health and behavioral health care systems.
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center – The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is the nation’s only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
- Indiana Suicide Prevention Network (ISPN) – This statewide community works to prevent suicide by advancing the conversation, eliminating stigma, and building hope.
Suicide Screening and Assessments
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale | The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is an evidence-based assessment that uses a simple set of questions to screen for suicidal thoughts or behavior. Learn more:
Get training:
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Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality | Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), developed by Dr. David A. Jobes, is a “therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk” (CAMS-care). Learn more:
Get training: Learn the essentials of CAMS with the CAMS online training (CAMS-care). |
Suicide First Aid | Suicide First Aid can help you recognize when someone may have suicidal thoughts and learn what to do to support their immediate safety. Get training: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety (Suicide Prevention Resource Center). Family and loved ones of the at-risk patient can participate too! |
Safety Interventions
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
Safety Plan Education | After a comprehensive suicide risk assessment, a patient who is deemed to have a high risk of suicide should develop a safety plan. A safety plan helps your patients list coping strategies and sources of support they can use before or during a suicidal crisis. Help your patients make a plan: Get training:
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Lethal Means Education | When a patient is deemed to have a high risk of suicide, you can work with them and their loved ones to limit their access to any firearms or other lethal means. Learn more:
Get training:
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Therapies
| Topic | Resources |
|---|---|
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a short-term, evidence-based psychotherapy for treating a variety of psychiatric conditions, including suicidal behavior. Learn more:
Get training: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training (Beck Institute) |
Dialectical Behavior Therapy | Dialectical behavior therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy that has been found helpful in the treatment of a variety of mental health disorders (Psych Central). Learn more:
Get training:
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Member Materials
Our Care Managers screen members who may be at risk for suicide. We may provide educational information that we encourage our members to discuss with their health partners. The following materials are samples of what we may provide to our at-risk members, depending on their plan. Please review these materials to familiarize yourself with the type of information your patients are receiving.