Professional Resources

The good news is that more than 90% of people who attempt suicide and survive never go on to die by suicide.”

CDCs MMWR report on mental health and suicide data

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) supports the integration of screening and assessment protocol into all programming including primary and specialist care.

There are a variety of validated tools that can be used and incorporated into electronic health records for ease of use. This information is provided below. It should be noted that screening and assessment tools are not appropriate for predicting suicide death or ideation. Instead, they should be utilized to determine the best course of treatment for patients/clients and never used as a barrier to treatment. 

Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians (RRSR)

RRSR is a two day interactive training based on established core competencies that mental health professionals need in order to effectively assess and manage suicide risk. The goal is for clinicians to be confident, competent, and prepared to meet the needs of distressed clients and their families..

Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) (Pocket Card)

Provides protocols for conducting a comprehensive suicide assessment, estimating suicide risk, identifying protective factors, and developing treatment plans and interventions responsive to the risk level of patients. Laminated SAFE-T cards are available from SAMHSA for free.

Treatment Options for patients struggling with suicide listed on SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices:

Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Providers

A web-based toolkit that contains the information and tools needed to implement state-of-the-art suicide prevention practices in primary care settings. The Toolkit includes sections on educating clinicians and office staff and developing mental health partnerships, as well as patient management tools and patient education tools.

Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) (Pocket Card)

Provides protocols for conducting a comprehensive suicide assessment, estimating suicide risk, identifying protective factors, and developing treatment plans and interventions responsive to the risk level of patients. Laminated SAFE-T cards are available from SAMHSA for free.

Emergency Department Health Care Providers

“Is Your Patient Suicidal?”

Information on recognizing and responding to acute suicide risk. The guide provides additional clinical guidance for ED personnel.

After an Attempt

Brochures regarding treatment and follow-up for those seen in an emergency department after a suicide attempt.

Lethal Means Counseling

Many suicide attempts are made impulsively during a short-term crisis period. If highly lethal means are made less available to impulsive attempters and they substitute less lethal means, or temporarily postpone their attempt, the odds are increased that they will survive. “Means reduction” (reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal means) is an important part of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. Means Matter based out of the Harvard School of Public Health provides information on means restriction strategies and means counseling for providers.

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