.png)
Course Overview
Note: This course material has previously been trained as part of the 6-hour Self-Harm in Children and Teens course.
This 3-hour online interactive course is for social workers, psychologists, and other helping professionals who are assessing the needs of children and teens with suicidal ideation. We will review the characteristics and behavioral indicators, along with their accompanying predictors and diagnosis. In this intermediate level training, current research on best practice for treating these behaviors will be reviewed. Participants will practice ways to ask children, teens and their families about risk and protective factors. Key elements in prevention for a variety of populations will be reviewed.
Participants will be able to:
Describe risk factors in suicidal ideation and behaviors in children and teens.
Utilize strategies to ask children, teens, and caregivers about risk and protective factors for suicide.
Equip themselves with suicide prevention resources to support the clinical needs of their clients.
Laura Gaines, MSW, LISW-S
Laura A Gaines, MSW, LISW-S is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with over 20 years’ experience as a mental health clinician treating children and adolescents with a broad variety of mental health disorders. With a specialization in trauma and anxiety disorders she frequently assessed for, and supported children and teens with suicidal ideation. She is a volunteer with the texting hotline where she regularly engages with texters to increase their safety. Her goal is to provide evidence based, real life, practical assistance to the parents and professionals who are the safety net for our vulnerable children involved in the child welfare system.