Suicide Assessment Using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

This conference is designed for licensed behavioral health providers who are interested in learning suicide assessment competencies. Current national and local suicide statistics and trends will be reviewed and discussed. The evidenced-based suicide assessment tool, the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Lifetime recent Clinical Version (C-SSRS), will then be introduced. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the C-SSRS at a pace that allows for discussion and a question and answer period. The content will be enhanced through the use of video demonstrations.  Finally, all participants will have the opportunity to practice using the C-SSRS in a safe and supportive environment. At the end of the training participants will leave with a understanding of the C-SSRS as well as a list of local resources to assist when working with patients experiencing suicidality.

Bradley Conference is designed to provide education for psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, certified counselors, speech/language and occupational therapists, teachers, milieu associates, and other professionals who work with children, adolescents or adults.  Topics address different behavioral health populations and treatment modalities and are intended to provide practical, state-of-the-art information.

Bradley Hospital’s clinical expertise, internationally renowned research, and academic affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University make the hospital a unique resource in all areas of behavioral health care.  We have designed a wide range of learning experiences to provide the training that behavioral health care professionals need to stay at the forefront of their fields.

Speakers

Scott Sylvester, LMHC holds a master of arts in clinical psychology from Bridgewater State University. He has been serving as the behavioral education development specialist supervisor at Bradley Hospital since 2013. He has experience working with children, adolescents and adults with developmental and psychiatric disabilities. Sylvester has worked in various behavioral health settings with extensive experience conducting psychiatric assessments in both the community and emergency room settings. Sylvester has been working within the field of behavioral health for 19 years and training staff in the art of de-escalation and crisis management for seven years.

Kimberly Lafountain, LMHC has over 20 years experience in the field of behavioral health. She holds a master of education in guidance and counseling from Providence College and a bachelor of science in health and physical education from the University of Maine. 

Lafountain is currently employed as a behavioral education development specialist in the Department of Behavioral Education at Bradly Hospital. She works as part of a team that develops and provides competency based education, evidence-based practices and continuing education and training programs within Lifespan, regionally and nationally.

Previously, she worked as a clinician in a community based program designed to keep children and adolescents in home placement. The majority of her career was spent providing outpatient counseling, specializing in sexual abuse specific treatment and juvenile offender treatment. Prior to joining the Department of Behavioral Education, Lafountain was a trainer for Gateway Healthcare.  

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

• Identify risk factors and warning signs for people at risk for suicide.
• Recognize a functional understanding of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
• Practice using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
• Identify at least three community-based resources to help support patients at risk for suicide. 

Details

• Target audience:  Psychologists, physicians, social workers and other interested health care professionals.
• Instructional level: Intermediate

Registration

• Program fee: No cost, grant-funded.
• Online registration closes on Friday, November 5.
• For refund/cancellation information please email [email protected] or call Elizabeth DeFreitas at 401-606-5753.

Register online