Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Suicide Prevention Education for Health Care Providers: Challenges and Opportunities

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention

  • 940 Accesses

Abstract

In recent years, numerous journal editorials and professional bodies have called for an increased role for nonpsychiatric health care providers (HCPs) in suicide prevention care. HCPs, including physicians and nurses, are in the position to play an important role in detecting suicide risk and performing early intervention with patients at risk for harming themselves. Despite this opportunity, many HCPs are not adequately prepared to address suicidality in their patients. The literature on how to better prepare providers to engage in suicide prevention is not well developed; relatively few high quality studies have been published demonstrating effective means to prepare HCPs for essential suicide prevention services such as screening, risk assessment, safety planning, and effective referral practices. The current chapter surveys a range of articles that report on efforts to boost HCPs’ preparedness to engage in effective suicide prevention care, and outlines the key elements that educational programs should consider moving forward. Barriers and facilitators for strengthening HCPs’ engagement with patients at risk for suicide will be explored, including in the areas of time constraints, opportunities for in-person versus online trainings, and use of effective training approaches. Recommendations for improving HCPs’ preparation to engage in effective suicide prevention care are proposed based on reviews of recent published studies and educational best practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 649.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Ahmedhani BK, Stewart C, Simon GE, Lynch F, Lu CY, Waitzfelder BE, Solberg LI, Owen-Smith AA, Beck A, Copeland LA, Hunkeler EM, Rossom RC, Williams K. Racial/ethnic differences in health care visits mad ebefore suicide attempt across the United States. Med Care. 2015;53(5):430–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. American Psychiatric Association. Psychiatric evaluation of adults, practice guidelines. 3rd ed.. 2015. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/clinical-practice-guidelines

  3. de Beurs D, de Groot M, de Keijser J, Mokkenstorm J, van Duijn E, de Winter R, Kerkhof A. The effect of an e-learning supported train the trainer programme on implementation of suicide guidelines in mental health care. J Affect Disord. 2015;175:446–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Dehay T, Ross S, McFaul M. Training medical providers in evidence-based approaches to suicide prevention. Int J Psychiatry Med. 2015;50(1):73–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Deuweke A, Bridges A. Suicide interventions in primary care: a selective review of the evidence. Fam Syst Health. 2018;36(3):289–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Duncan P, Frankowski B, Carey P, Kallock E, Delaney TV, Dixon R, Garcia A, Shaw JS. Improvement in adolescent screening and counseling rates for risk behaviors and developmental tasks. Pediatrics. 2012;130(5):e1345–51.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dunlap L, Orme S, Zarkin G, Arias S, Miller I, Camargo C, et al. Screening and intervention for suicide prevention: a cost-effectiveness analysis of the ED-SAFE interventions. Psychiatr Serv. 2019;70(12):1082–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fallucco EM, Hanson MD, Glowinski AL. Teaching pediatric residents to assess adolescent suicide risk with a standardized patient module. Pediatrics. 2010;125(5):954–959.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fallucco EM, Conlon MK, Gale G, Constantino JN, Glowinski AL. Use of a standardized patient paradigm to enhance proficiency in risk assessment for adolescent depression and suicide. J Adolesc Health. 2012;51:66–72.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Goh Y-S, MCouns S, Chng M-L, Tam C-S, Yobas P. Using standardized patients in enhancing undergraduate students’ learning experience in mental health nursing. Nurse Educ Today. 2016;45:167–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hermanns M, Lilly M, Crawley B. Using clinical simulation to enhance psychiatric nursing training of baccalaureate student. Clin Simul Nurs. 2011;7:e41–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Heyman I, Webster BJ, Tee S. Curriculum development through understanding the student nurse experience of suicide intervention education- a phenomenographic study. Nurse Educ Pract. 2015;15:498–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hogan M, Goldstein-Grumet J. Suicide prevention: an emerging priority for health care. Health Aff. 2016;35(6):1084–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Jefee-Bahloul H, Hanna R, Brenner A. Teaching psychiatry residents about suicide loss: impact of an educational program. Acad Psychiatry. 2017;38:768–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Jobes D. Managing suicidal risk: a collaborative approach. 2nd ed. New York: The Guilford Press; 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jones R. The development nurse-led suicide prevention training for multidisciplinary staff in a North Wales NHS trust. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2009;17(2):178–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kato TA, Suzuki Y, et al. Development of a 2-hour suicide intervention program among medical residents: first pilot trial. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2010;64:531–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lerchenfeldt S, Kamel-El Sayed S, Patino G, Thomas D, Wagner J. Suicide assessment and management team based learning module. Med Ed Portal. 2020;16:10952.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lu C, Lee H, Hsu S, Shu I. Elements of scenario based learning on suicidal patient care using real-time video. Nursing Informatics. 2016; https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-658-3-257.

  20. Lujan DC. First year medical students pefer multiple learning styles. Adv Physiol Educ. 2005;30:13–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Mann J, Apter A, Bertolote J, Beautrais A, Currier D, Haas A, et al. Suicide prevention strategies: a systematic review. JAMA. 2005;294:16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Marshall E, York J, Magruder K, Yeager D, Knapp R, DeSantis M, et al. Implementation of online suicide-specific training for VA providers. Acad Psychiatry. 2014;38:566–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. McFaul MB, Mohatt NV, DeHay TL. Development, evaluation, and refinement of the suicide prevention toolkit for rural primary care practices. J Rural Mental Health. 2014;38(2):116–217.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Montiero E, Melvin L, Manalakos J, Patel A, Norman G. Evaluating the effect of instruction and practice schedule on the acquisition of ECG interpretation skills. Perspect Med Educ. 2017;6:237–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Mutiso V, Pike K, Musymi C, Gitonga I, Tele A, Rebello T, Thornicroft G. Feasibility and effectiveness or nurses and clinical officers in implementing the WHO mh GAP intervention guide: pilot study in Makueni County, Kenya. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2019;59:20–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Nakagami Y, Kubo H, Katsuki R, Sakai T, Sugihara G, Naito C, et al. Development of a 2-h suicide prevention program for medical staff including nurses and medical residents: a two center pilot trial. J Affect Disord. 2018;225:569–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Surgeon General and National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. National Strategy for suicide prevention: goals and objectives for action. Washington, DC: HHS; 2012. September 2012

    Google Scholar 

  28. National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: Transforming Health Systems Initiative Work Group. Recommended standard care for people with suicide risk: making health care suicide safe. Washington, DC: Education Development Center, Inc; 2018. https://theactionalliance.org/sites/default/files/action_alliance_recommended_standard_care_final.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  29. O’Connor E, Gaynes B, Burda B, Soh C, Whitlock E. Screening for and treatment of suicide risk relevant to primary care: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158(10):741–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Painter N, Kuo G, Collins S, Palomino Y, Lee K. Pharmacist training in suicide prevention. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2018;58:199–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Philip S, Govier D, Pantely S. Patient centered medical home: developing the business care from a practice perspective. Milliman White Paper. 2019. https://www.ncqa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/06142019_WhitePaper_Milliman_BusinessCasePCMH.pdf

  32. Phillips E, Neagle G, Cameron B, Moneypenny M. It’s okay to talk: suicide awareness simulation. Clin Teach. 2019;16:373–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Public Health Scotland. 2020. http://www.healthscotland.scot/health-topics/suicide/suicide-prevention-overview. Accessed 25 Sept 20.

  34. Reshetukha T, Alavi N, Prost E, Kirkpatrick R, Sajid S, Patel C, Groll D. Improving suicide risk assessment in the emergency department through physician education and a suicide risk assessment prompt. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2018;52:34–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Robles R, Lopez-Garcia P, Miret M, Cabello M, Cisneros E, Rizo A, et al. WHO-mhGAP training in Mexico: increasing knowledge and readiness for the identification and management of depression and suicide risk in primary care. Arch Med Res. 2019;50:558–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ryberg W, Zahl P-H, Diep L, Landro N, Fosse R. Managing suicidality within specialized care: a randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2019;249:112–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Schmidt H, Schotanus J, Arends LR. Impact of problem-based, active learning on graduation rates for 10 generations of Dutch medical students. Med Educ. 2009;43:211–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Shain B, Committee on Adolescence. Suicide and suicide attempts in adolescents. Pediatrics. 2016;138(1):e20161420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. SPRC. Primary care. 2020. http://www.sprc.org/settings/primary-care/toolkit. Accessed 2 Sept 2020.

  40. Stanley A, Chelvakumar G, Cody P, Sadhir M, Nugent M, Hoffman R, Simpson P. Resident training curriculum training in adolescent depression and suicide prevention. Med Ed Portal. 2016; published 21 Mar 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Tsai WP, Lin LY, Chang HC, Yu LS, Chou MC. The effects of the gatekeeper suicide-awareness program for nursing personnel. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2011;47:117–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense. VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for the assessment and management of patients at risk for suicide. 2019. Retrieved from https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/MH/srb/VADoDSuicideRiskFullCPGFinal5088212019.pdf

  43. WHO Global Health Observatory. Suicide Mortality Rate per 100,000 population. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/suicide-mortality-rate-(per-100-000-population). Accessed 25 Sept 2020.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA

    Thomas Delaney, Laura Nelson & Debra Lopez

Authors
  1. Thomas Delaney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laura Nelson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Debra Lopez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Delaney .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy

    Maurizio Pompili

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Delaney, T., Nelson, L., Lopez, D. (2022). Suicide Prevention Education for Health Care Providers: Challenges and Opportunities. In: Pompili, M. (eds) Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42003-1_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation