For Medical Providers

This page is intended to make updated suicide prevention resources readily available to medical providers. If you have any questions or need further information, please call 530-229-8426.

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"Primary care physicians play an important role in the assessment and management of suicide risk. It is estimated that 75 percent of individuals who die by suicide are in contact with a primary care physician in the year before their death, and that 45 percent do so within one month of their death. In contrast, only 20 percent of these patients saw a mental health professional in the preceding month".

^{- 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action: A Report of the U.S. Surgeon General and of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention.}

Data and Reports

Know the Facts: Local Suicides, Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency.

10 Leading Causes of Death by Age Group, United States - 2014

Suicide and Suicide Attempts in Adolescents: American Academy of Pediatrics

Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999-2014: NCHS Data Brief No. 241. April, 2016

Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Rural Primary Care Practices

2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action

"Research from several countries outside the U.S. as well as from the U.S. military and veteran population suggests that many physical health conditions may increase suicide risk."

"Several conditions, such as back pain, sleep disorders, and traumatic brain injury were all associated with suicide risk and are commonly diagnosed, making patients with these conditions primary targets for suicide prevention."

^{- Major Physical Health Conditions and Risk of Suicide. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Am J Prev Med 2017;53(3):308-315.}

Suicide Screening Tools

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

Publications

Is Your Patient Suicidal?

1 in 10 suicides are completed by those who have been seen in the Emergency Department in the last 60 days. Many are never assessed for suicide risk. "Is Your Patient Suicidal?" is a suicide risk poster that includes suicide warning signs, contributing factors and important questions to ask. Click here to download a free copy.

SAFE-T:

This convenient pocket card "assists clinicians in conducting a suicide assessment using a 5-step evaluation and triage plan to identify risk factors and protective factors, conduct a suicide inquiry, determine risk level and potential interventions, and document a treatment plan". Order your free card here.

More suicide prevention publications can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website. Click here for a comprehensive list.

Staff Training and CME

The following training courses are registered as Best Practice programs by

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC).

Click here to view SPRC's training page for clinicians and support staff.

Local Training Courses

QPR Suicide Prevention Training

QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer - 3 steps that anyone can use to help save a life.

QPR Suicide Prevention Training is offered free through Shasta County Health and Human Services. To schedule a training for your staff, call 530-229-8426.

Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR)

Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals

AMSR is a one-day training designed for mental health clinicians. This class teaches participants strategies in the assessment, management and treatment of suicidal patients. AMSR is recognized as a Best Practice training by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center's Best Practice Registry. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences awards 6.5 continuing education credits for completion of the program.

For more information about local training for AMSR, call 530-229-8426.

Prevention Tools for You and Your Patients

Below are lists of programs and applications designed to support you and your patients - anytime, anywhere.

For You:

The Pocket Guide for Primary Care Professionals: Risk and protective factors, suicide assessment questions and decision tree for managing at-risk patients.

Safety Planning Guide: Developing a safety plan for your patients.

Patient Safety Plan Template: Create a safety plan in collaboration with your patient, who can then use it independently to ensure safety.

Crisis Support Plan: Enlist support from a trusted friend or family member in case of a suicide crisis.

Training Resource Packet for Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Settings "The Know the Signs Campaign developed this resource to help guide county efforts to engage primary care in suicide prevention. It includes a one-hour suicide prevention training with slides, notes and handouts; tips, tools and templates to support planning and implementation of the training; and a copy of the SPRC/WICHE Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Rural Primary Care Practices".

For Your Patients:

My3: This app guides your patient in defining their support network so they have a plan at the ready during a mental health crisis.

PTSD Coach: Designed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for service men and women, this app provides a self-assessment module, information on PTSD, support resources and stress management tools.

iMoodJournal: Patients can easily track their moods, sleep patterns, medications, energy level, stress and more.