Suicide Prevention and Risk Recognition
Recognizing warning signs, risk and protective factors; the difference between screening and clinical assessment; safety planning and lethal means safety; emergency response including 988; documentation; follow-up; and what nonclinical staff should and shouldn't do.
Online, self-paced · about 50 minutes · graded exam and certificate
Who should take it
All staff who have contact with clients. Lessons 3 to 5 include clinician-specific content, with clear role limits for nonclinical employees.
This course is foundational education for the whole team. It doesn't certify anyone to assess suicide risk, and it doesn't replace clinical training, supervision, your organization's policy, or state-required suicide prevention training for licensed professionals.
What employees will learn
- ✓Recognize warning signs that a person may be thinking about suicide.
- ✓Describe major risk factors, protective factors and signs of escalating risk.
- ✓Distinguish screening from clinical risk assessment, and know which roles do each.
- ✓Describe the parts of a safety plan and why lethal means safety matters.
- ✓Respond correctly to an emergency, including when to call 911 and how to use 988.
- ✓Document screening, assessment and actions accurately.
- ✓Follow up after missed appointments and care transitions.
Topics covered
- •Suicide warning signs
- •Risk and protective factors
- •Recognizing escalating risk
- •Screening and assessment distinctions
- •Safety planning principles
- •Escalation and emergency response
- •Clinical documentation
- •Follow-up procedures
- •Role limitations for nonclinical employees
Sources this course is based on
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline · SAMHSA
- NIMH: Suicide prevention · Other
- 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention · HHS
- Safety Planning Guide: A Quick Guide for Clinicians (SPRC; Stanley & Brown) · Other
- The Joint Commission: Suicide Risk Reduction Resource Center · Other
- Zero Suicide framework (Education Development Center) · Other
This course is not accredited for continuing education credit and is not approved by a government agency. Training supports, but does not guarantee, your organization's compliance. Course content explains federal rules and accepted practice; state requirements may differ.