Event

An important webinar series is taking place between January and June of 2015. The series is a joint effort between the National Council for Behavioral Health, the National Institute for Mental Health, and the Action Alliance. Take a look below for more information about upcoming webinars in the series. Find archived webinars here.

What interventions prevent suicidal behavior?
Thursday, April 2, 2015 2:00PM-3:00PM EST / 11:00AM-12:00PM PST
Within the health care setting, a number of interventions have been found to be effective in reducing suicide risk [or in preventing risk], ranging from psychotherapies that target suicidal thoughts, to 'caring letters,' to a limited number of medications that have specific suicide mitigation effects. This webinar will include topics such as:

• For which psychotherapies is there the most evidence that they reduce suicidal behavior? [or: Which psychotherapies does evidence suggest are most effective in reducing suicidal behavior?]
• Do psychotherapies that work for adults, also prevent attempts in youth?
• What is the status of medication interventions that can prevent individuals from attempting suicide?
• What adjunct interventions used along with treatments for psychiatric problems (e.g., safety plans) show promise?

What are the most effective services to treat and prevent suicidal behavior?
Wednesday, April 29, 2015 2:00PM-3:00PM EST / 11:00AM-12:00PM PST
Individuals at risk for suicide intersect with care systems at many points, providing multiple opportunities for the system and providers to deliver effective services to reduce suicide risk, if the proper systems, policies and protocols are in place. Determining evidence-based components for improving care systems, and linkages between care systems (e.g., emergency departments, community providers), is necessary for efficient and effective suicide care delivery. This webinar will include topics such as:

• What are the more effective ways of training providers to become effective change agents in reducing suicide risk?   
• What do we know about at-risk individuals who avoid care, and how can they be engaged in treatment?
• What is does the evidence suggest for improving care transitions to reduce suicide?
• What are high risk times during which continuity of care could be life saving?
• How does the Action Alliance's Zero Suicide Initiative incorporate what is known about delivering effective services to treat and prevent suicidal behavior to transform health systems?

What suicide interventions outside of health care settings reduce risk?
Wednesday, May 27, 2015 2:00PM-3:00PM EST / 11:00AM-12:00PM PST
In addition to effective clinical suicide care, effective suicide prevention strategies include interventions outside of care systems. There is evidence to support community prevention approaches that include:  making environments safer through reduced access to lethal means (e.g., prescription drugs, guns, carbon monoxide) for those at risk; safe and effective suicide media coverage; and prevention programs implemented in other settings such as schools and workplaces. This webinar will include topics such as:

• What efforts to reduce access to lethal means have yielded benefits?
• What early intervention efforts (primary school based programs) show promise?  
• What does research show about the role of media and messaging in suicide prevention efforts?
• Do efforts to reduce other high risk behaviors also reduce suicide risk?

What research infrastructure do we need to reduce suicidal behavior?
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 2:00PM-3:00PM EST / 11:00AM-12:00PM PST
Suicide research investments can be strengthened by improving the research infrastructure. Standard definitions of suicidal behavior, as well as common data elements, reviews and analyses across setting(s?) and studies are needed to advance the state of suicide care and research. Opportunities include using 'big data' from medical records to improve risk detection, and establishing clearinghouses for policy and practice changes can be further studied. This webinar will include topics such as:

• How does the conduct of research need to be improved to better establish the evidence for suicide prevention approaches?
• How can harmonizing and sharing research data expand our suicide prevention knowledge?
• How can partnerships among public health surveillance and health care systems reduce suicides?

What can be learned from the Veterans Health Administration and Department of Defense research efforts that can advance broader U.S.  suicide prevention research and practice?