Health professional training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management

Health professionals regularly encounter individuals who are at risk for suicide. Despite the comorbidity or co-occurrence of mental health conditions and suicide, the vast majority of behavioral health professionals—a group that includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, licensed counselors, psychiatric nurses, and substance use professionals and para-professionals—do not typically receive routine training in suicide assessment, treatment, or risk management. Primary care providers are also in a unique position to identify patients at risk of suicide and enact appropriate intervention methods. Of people who die by suicide, almost half had contact with their primary care provider in the month before death, and three out of every four had contact with their primary care provider in the year before death.

AFSP recognizes that it is crucial to train health professionals in suicide risk assessment, treatment, and management. Currently, we are focused on supporting state-level legislation and regulatory efforts to require such training in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

To learn more, read our Health Professional Training issue brief.

Learn about the Zero Suicide initiative, which aims to create a health system that is smarter and safer for suicide care.