6 CE Hour Suicide Assessment, Treatment, and Management Training for Behavioral Health Professionals
Most suicide prevention trainings focus on recognizing basic warning signs and referring individuals for help. But when you're the clinician they're referring to, the basics are not enough.
This video-based training is designed specifically for behavioral health professionals. It goes beyond the basics to address the clinical realities of suicide risk assessment, treatment, safety planning, and ongoing management.
The course provides practical, evidence-informed strategies for navigating complex clinical decisions, managing liability, and delivering effective care.
WA DOH Approved |6 NBCC CE Credits | Self-Paced Online Video-Based Training
Course Fee: $89
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Course Snapshot
Course Format
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
Course Format
Course Format
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
Duration
6 credit hours
Course Format
Duration
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
6 credit hours
Access
Available immediately after registration
Course Format
Access
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
Available immediately after registration
Certificate
Issued upon completion
Course Format
Certificate
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
Issued upon completion
Audience
Behavioral Health Professional
Course Format
Audience
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
Behavioral Health Professional
Price
$89
Course Format
Price
Self-paced Online Video-Based Training
$89
Course Overview
Suicide prevention involves more than identifying warning signs or knowing when to refer someone for additional care. Behavioral health professionals must be prepared to assess complex presentations, determine appropriate interventions, manage ongoing risk, and make clinical decisions that can have significant consequences for their clients.
This course examines the clinical responsibilities involved in suicide assessment, treatment, and management, with particular attention to the challenges encountered in outpatient behavioral health settings.
Participants will explore how to conduct comprehensive suicide risk assessments, evaluate suicidal ideation, intent, planning, and access to lethal means, and distinguish between screening results and individualized clinical risk formulations.
The training also addresses evidence-based approaches to suicide treatment, collaborative safety planning, lethal means counseling, and the management of suicidal clients in outpatient care. Participants will examine considerations for hospitalization, crisis intervention, engaging supportive individuals, and maintaining continuity of care following a suicidal crisis.
Because effective suicide risk management requires both clinical judgment and professional accountability, the course addresses documentation, consultation, confidentiality, legal and ethical responsibilities, telehealth considerations, and clinical liability.
A dedicated section examines suicide prevention among veterans, including military culture, veteran-specific risk factors, protective factors, and intervention strategies.
Throughout the training, participants engage with realistic clinical case studies, applied exercises, supplemental readings, and practical resources designed to support the application of course concepts in clinical practice.
Rather than simply teaching clinicians when to refer someone for help, this course focuses on the decisions and responsibilities involved when you are the professional providing that help.
Course Objectives
After completing this training, participants will be able to:
Identify common suicide risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs relevant to clinical practice.
Conduct a structured suicide risk assessment using direct questions about suicidal ideation, intent, plan, means, and related indicators.
Differentiate levels of suicide risk and determine appropriate clinical responses based on assessment findings.
Develop collaborative safety plans and apply strategies to reduce access to lethal means.
Determine when outpatient management is appropriate and when hospitalization or a higher level of care should be considered.
Apply best practices for documentation, consultation, and legal and ethical risk management when working with suicidal clients.
Meet your Instructor
Carmen Tuazon (Benway), LMHC, LPC, NCC, ACSFounder & Clinical Director, Pacific Neurocounseling
Carmen Benway is a licensed mental health counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, and founder of Pacific Neurocounseling, a behavioral health practice serving clients throughout Washington and Oregon.
Carmen began working in behavioral health in 2011, initially supporting foster youth involved in the child welfare system. Her professional experience has since included work in psychiatric hospitalization, DSHS programs, adult family homes, and outpatient mental health care.
Throughout her career, Carmen has worked with individuals experiencing severe and complex mental health challenges, including situations requiring careful risk assessment, clinical judgment, and coordination across different levels of care.
Her experience across multiple treatment settings has shaped her approach to suicide prevention education. She recognizes that identifying suicide risk is only one part of a clinician's responsibility. Behavioral health professionals must also make difficult decisions about treatment, safety, hospitalization, documentation, and ongoing care.
Through Pacific Neurocounseling Continuing Education, Carmen focuses on providing clinically relevant training that addresses the realities of behavioral health practice, helping professionals move beyond introductory concepts and strengthen the skills needed to manage complex clinical situations.
Course Modules
Click each module to view the lessons.
Module 1: Foundation of Suicide Prevention
● Understanding Suicide in Behavioral Health Practice – 10 minutes● Myths and Misconceptions About Suicide – 10 minutes● Why Clients Do Not Disclose Suicidal Thoughts – 8 minutes● The Clinicians Role in Suicide Prevention – 9 minutes● Section Quiz● Handout: Suicide Prevention Introduction
Total Time: 37 minutesModule 2: Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Warning Signs
● Static Risk Factors for Suicide – 7 minutes● Dynamic Risk Factors for Suicide – 8 minutes● Behavioral Warning Signs of Suicide – 7 minutes● Protective Factors and Resilience – 8 minutes● Case Study: Risk and Protective Factors● Section Quiz● Handout: Suicide Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Protective Factors
Total Time: 30 minutesModule 3: Suicide Risk Assessment
● How to Structure a Suicide Assessment Interview – 13 minutes ● Assessing Ideation, Intent, Plan, and Means – 7 minutes ● Determining Level of Suicide Risk – 7 minutes ● Structured Framework for Suicide Assessment and Intervention – 6 minutes ● Suicide Risk Screening Versus Comprehensive Assessment – 14 minutes● Risk Formulation and Clinical Decision Making – 16 minutes ● Determining Appropriate Levels of Care and Intervention – 18 minutes ● Clinical Challenges in Suicide Risk Assessment- 16 minutes● Case Study: Suicide Risk Assessment ● Activity: Clinical Risk Formulation Exercise● Section Quiz● Handout: Suicide Screening and Risk Assessment
Total Time: 97 Minute Video30 Minute ReadingModule 4: Suicide Treatment and Safety Planning
● Introduction- 1 minute● Collaborative Safety Planning – 12 minutes ● Understanding Lethality, Imminent Risk, and Impulsive Suicide Behavior– 14 minutes ● Understanding Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Suicide Risk – 20 minutes● Lethal Means Counseling and Safety Conversations – 7 minutes ● When Hospitalization May Be Necessary – 6 minutes● Evidence-Based Treatments for Suicide Risk – 20 minutes ● Engaging Family Members and Supportive Third Parties – 11 minutes ● Continuity of Care and Follow-Up After Suicidal Crisis – 5 minutes ● Safety Planning Application Activity- ● Section Quiz ● Handout: Suicide Treatment and Management
Total Time: 96 minutesModule 5: Documentation, Risk Management, and Clinical Liability
● Confidentiality and Duty to Protect in Suicide Risk Cases – 6 minutes ● Documentation of Risk Assessment – 7 minutes ● Consultation and Clinical Liability – 9 minutes● Telehealth and Suicide Risk Management – 6 minutes ● Section Quiz ● Handout: Suicide Risk Management ● Handout: Example Suicide Risk Documentation Note
Total Time: 28 minutesModule 6: Veteran Suicide Prevention
● Veteran Suicide Data, Military Culture, and Suicide Risk – 20 minutes ● Veteran-Specific Risk Factors and Protective Factors – 9 minutes ● Veteran-Specific Intervention Strategies and Clinical Approaches – 13 minutes ● Quiz
Total Time: 42 minutesFinal Comprehensive Case Study and Course Completion
● Final Comprehensive Case Study – 20 minutes ● Course Evaluation Survey
Total Time: 20 minutes
Total Instructional Time: 360 Minutes Total Continuing Education Credit: 6.0 Credit hours
Course Details
This course is a self-paced online training providing 6 continuing education hours.
The course is designed for:
● Licensed Mental Health Counselors● Licensed Clinical Social Workers● Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists● Associate-level clinicians working toward licensure● Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Participants must complete all modules and pass the final assessment to receive a certificate of completion.
Certificates are issued automatically upon completion.
Policies
Refund Policy
Online products are immeditately available and are non-eligible for a refund once purchased.
Grievance Policy
Participants who wish to file a complaint or grievance may contact our office directly.
Contact Information
Pacific Neurocounseling425-403-5765Pacificneurocounseling.com
Pacific Neurocounseling has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 8083. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Pacific Neurocounseling is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.