Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Suicide: Assessment and Intervention

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults and the tenth leading cause of death nationwide when all age groups are considered. In recent years, close to fifty thousand people have died by suicide annually in the United States. Worldwide, it is estimated that at least one million people end their life yearly.

Rates of suicide have continued to rise in recent years in the United States among pre-adolescents (“tweens”), younger adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged persons despite the implementation of a wide range of preventative community-based resources as well as expanded access and options for mental health care.

Non-suicidal self-injury has increased dramatically since the 2000s, especially among pre-adolescents and adolescents, and has emerged as a significant risk factor for attempted suicide as well as completed suicide.

This workshop will provide an overview of the major patterns and types of non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behavior across the lifespan.

Biopsychosocial risk factors will be reviewed which increase the probability of non-suicidal self-harm and suicidal behavior. As well, protective factors will be outlined which serve to reduce the likelihood of non-suicidal self-harm and suicidal behavior.

Neuropsychiatric conditions which are reviewed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – 5th Edition – Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) of the American Psychiatric Association will be discussed that are associated with elevated rates of suicidal behavior.

Best practices will be addressed for evaluation of suicidal behavior and non-suicidal self-injury: History Taking, Assessment of Mental Status, Interviewing Strategies, Semi-Structured Interviews, and Psychological Screening Tests.

Discussion will also focus on the roles played by the State of New Hampshire Access Point/Rapid Response services in conjunction with Emergency Services Departments and Mobile Crisis Teams within community mental health centers with respect to prevention, assessment, and intervention for persons considered to be at elevated risk for self-harm.

If time permits, discussion will include circumstances which can trigger ethics complaints to mental health licensing boards and/or malpractice suits against mental health clinicians and community mental health centers in cases of attempted or completed suicide. Risk management strategies will be reviewed which can help prevent or reduce the impact of such outcomes.

This program will be facilitated by esteemed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist, Dr. Jerrold Pollak. Please visit the "Instructor" tab below for additional information.

6.0 Category A Continuing Education hours for licensure have been applied for through NASW-NH.