Suicide Prevention Programming for Children and Adolescents

According to recent national data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), almost 32% of high school teens experienced “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” and 17% reported having “serious suicidal thoughts” during the previous 12 months. Though only a small percentage of teens reported making a suicide attempt requiring medical intervention during the previous year (2.4%), undetected or untreated sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts can fester. Worse, when suicidal thoughts are experienced in a context where there is ready access to lethal means (e.g., dangerous medications, firearms), it can be a deadly combination. Thus, identifying and treating the more prevalent correlates of suicidality at an earlier stage is a sensible entry point for prevention efforts versus waiting until youth experience much more serious emotional and behavioral crises. Two specific suicide prevention models relevant for youth, Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) and Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) will be reviewed in detail during the presentation. The workshop is designed to inform clinicians and researchers on the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of CALM and CAMS with children and adolescents. This 4-hour presentation will include data slides, a review of theoretical concepts, and several brief video clips demonstrating the use of suicide prevention programs for children and adolescents. There will also be ample opportunities to discuss de-identified case material, brought up from the presenter and by the participants, as deemed relevant.