Suicide is a major public health problem and the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide rates have been rising in nearly every state over the past two decades. On average, there are 123 suicides a day, and for every suicide, there are 25 attempts. The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention has recently released the first-ever recommendations for improving standard care for individuals at risk for suicide. These recommendations include screening for high-risk patients, developing an intervention and “safety plan” and timely follow-up. Primary care providers have been identified as one of the key potential gatekeepers in suicide prevention efforts and should be up to date on suicide risk and intervention.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, the learners will be able to:
1. Review current practice gaps in recognizing suicide in primary care settings
2. Appreciate warning signs vs. risk factors for suicide
3. Identify areas where there is …read more …