Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment

Social Workers

5.00 - CE credit hours training

$31.25 - Cost of course

This page contains important information about the course, including training details, a comprehensive course description, learning objectives, and source references. We encourage you to review each section to gain a clear understanding of the course content, educational goals, and supporting materials before beginning your training and taking the POST TEST below.

Target audience and instructional level of this course: foundational
There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support related to this CE program.

Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment

Course Training

Follow the link below, read the material and then take the 30 question post test

Read the Course Material:
Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment

Post Test

30 Questions

1. From "Introduction": Compared to the general population, individuals treated for alcohol abuse or dependence are at about ________ greater risk to eventually die by suicide compared with the general population.

a. 2 times b. 5 times c. 7 times d. 10 times

2. From "Getting Ready to Address Suicidality": Is there any empirical evidence to suggest that talking to a person about suicide will make them suicidal?

a. yes b. no

3. From "Getting Ready to Address Suicidality": The following are aspects of ____________________________. Explain the reason(s) for your concern and any action(s) that you take regarding client suicide risk. Elicit the client's input as to what may help them be safe. Consider the client's input as much as possible in determining the actions that you take.

a. maintaining a positive attitude with a suicidal client b. working collaboratively with a suicidal client c. providing informed consent for treatment d. gathering information form a suicidal client

4. From "Getting Ready to Address Suicidality": Clients should not be given the false impression that everything in treatment is confidential because safety and protection of the client trumps confidentiality in certain crisis situations.

a. True b. False

5. From "Getting Ready to Address Suicidality/Ten Points to Keep You on Track": Suicide contracts should be used, in part because they provide protection from litigation.

a. True b. False

6. From "Getting Ready to Address Suicidality/Ten Points to Keep You on Track": One of the ten points is "The outcome does not tell the whole story." What does this refer to in terms of suicide?

a. a good outcome (survival) does not, by itself, equate to proper treatment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. b. a clinical team may do a solid job of screening, assessing, and intervening with a high-risk client. However despite these efforts, a high-risk client may eventually die by suicide. c. clients are going to do what they want to do regarding suicide, regardless of the treatment team's efforts. d. A and B e. A and C

7. From "Getting Ready to Address Suicidality/Maintain Positive Attitudes": Which of the following is true regarding substance abuse clients and suicide?

a. Merely receiving substance abuse treatment may lessen the risk of suicide. b. A good working relationship with a substance abuse treatment professional is, in fact, a powerful protective factor against suicide. c. Individuals who are acutely suicidal individuals, who have a good and active working relationship with a substance abuse treatment professional, may still need additional services to ensure their safety. d. all of the above e. none of the above

8. From "Background Information": The article reports that acute alcohol intoxication is present in about _______ percent of suicide attempts and suicides.

a. 20 - 30 b. 30 - 40 c. 40 - 50 d. 50 - 60

9. From "Background Information": Saying goodbye to loved ones directly or symbolically. Writing a suicide note or diary entry. Giving away possessions. Acquiring a method of suicide (e.g., hoarding pills, buying a weapon). These are all examples of:

a. suicidal attempt b. non-suicidal self-injury c. suicidal preparation d. self-destructive behavior

10. From "Background Information": IS PATH WARM is a memory device to help recall:

a. indirect warning signs of suicidality b. direct suicidal indications c. acute stressful life events d. all of the above

11. From "Background Information": Which of the following is true regarding protective factors against suicidal behavior?

a. they are not well researched b. they do not immunize clients from suicidal behavior c. they may afford no protection in acute crises d. B and C e. all of the above

12. From "Background Information": __________________ have higher rates of suicide than _________________.

a. Hispanics; Whites b. Whites and Native Americans; African Americans c. African Americans; Hispanics d. Whites and Hispanics; African Americans

13. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": During screening, when clients are vague about a topic it is important to follow up and further explore. However, the authors advise against "stacking questions" which can lead to defensiveness in the client. What do they advise for following up on vague answers, instead of "stacking"?

a. use of humor b. make an observation about the vagueness c. wait for another day to ask the follow up questions d. ask the same question in a different way somewhat later in the interview

14. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": The authors recommend asking the same suicide screening questions verbatim for every new client.

a. True b. False

15. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": When asking follow up questions about suicidal thoughts it is imperative to always ask about:

a. a plan access to a suicide method b. access to a suicide method c. intent to commit suicide d. A and B e. all of the above

16. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": When screening about past suicide attempts it is imperative to always ask about:

a. lethality and intent b. intoxication and lethality c. intent and intoxication d. suicide note and intent

17. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": During treatment, would this warrant access to immediate supervision or regular supervision? Emergence (or re-emergence) of indirect warning signs that, on follow-up questioning, suggest current risk.

a. regular b. immediate

18. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": Seriousness of suicide risk is defined by which of these factors?

a. the consequences of self-harm b. the likelihood that a suicide attempt will occur c. the potential consequences of an attempt d. A and B e. B and C

19. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": You decide to contact your client's wife during a session to ask her to safely store the client's shotgun. According to the article this action would be considered:

a. immediate and non-intensive b. immediate and intensive c. non-immediate and intensive d. non-immediate and non-intensive

20. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": Which is the correct matching?

a. safety cards and plans focus on behaviors that positively support treatment outcome; a Commitment to Treatment agreement focuses on preventing or intervening in crises. b. safety cards and plans focus on preventing or intervening in crises; a Commitment to Treatment agreement focuses on behaviors that positively support treatment outcome.

21. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": Sometimes in circumstances of suicide risk we need to refer a client, and the client does not agree with the referral. Which of the following is recommended to help the situation?

a. Discuss the reasons for your actions b. Elicit the client\'s input as to what he or she believes would be most helpful c. Give the client a sense of choice or control d. all of the above e. none of the above

22. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": Extending the action emphasizes the importance of watching for a return of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, following up with referrals, and coordinating on an ongoing basis with providers who are addressing the client\'s suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

a. True b. False

23. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": Why are suicide prevention efforts not simply one-time actions?

a. Once a client becomes suicidal we have a lifetime obligation to his or her safety. b. Suicidal behavior tends to be like a contagion. c. Individuals who are suicidal commonly experience a return of suicide risk following any number of setbacks. d. B and C e. all of the above

24. From "GATE Procedures for Substance Abuse Counselors": In Documentation Example #2, the counselor used _________________________________.

a. regular supervision and an intervention of low intensity b. immediate supervision and an intervention of high intensity c. immediate supervision and an intervention of intermediate intensity d. regular supervision and an intervention of high intensity

25. From "Core Competencies": One aspect of competence in addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors of clients in substance abuse treatment is managing one's anxiety about suicidality.

a. True b. False

26. From "Core Competencies": If a suicidal client is non-compliant with his or her treatment plan it is important to:

a. maintain a positive, non-punitive attitude. b. be firm with the client that this could lead to hospitalization. c. shift to a higher intensity of intervention. d. all of the above

27. From "Core Competencies": Being clean and sober, having an intact marriage, and having childrearing responsibilities are all considered ___________________________.

a. competencies b. risk factors for suicide c. protective factors against suicide d. family assets

28. From "Core Competencies": A client's perceptions of reasons for suicide ________________ , however ________________.

a. may not be logical to you; they are congruent with the client's perceptions. b. have a particular logic; you may not be able to decipher this c. may seem moral to him or her; you cannot condone this morality d. will be compelling; you must not be deceived by this

29. From "Core Competencies": If you are seeing a client with a cultural background that is different than yours, he or she may present information about suicidality in a way that is confusing to you. In this circumstance it would be helpful to remember that clients need to present their suicidal dilemma in the context of their cultural norms.

a. True b. False

30. From "Core Competencies": Ethical and legal competency when working with suicidal clients includes knowledge of:

a. state laws b. regulatory statutes c. agency risk management policies d. all of the above e. none of the above

Course Description

Course Description

This course is aimed at counselors and healthcare professionals wishing to improve their knowledge on Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment. Suicide risk is an issue that every frontline substance abuse counselor must be able to address. Research consistently shows a high prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts among persons with substance abuse problems who are in treatment (Ilgen, Harris, Moos & Tiet, 2007) and a significant prevalence of death-by-suicide among those who have at one time been in substance abuse treatment when compared with those who do not have a diagnosis of substance use disorder (Wilcox et al., 2004). As a result, substance abuse treatment providers must be prepared to gather information routinely and participate in the treatment of clients at risk for suicidal behavior. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are also a significant indicator of other co-occurring disorder (depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and some personality disorders) that will need to be explored, diagnosed, and addressed to improve outcomes of substance abuse treatment.

Learning Objectives

summarize background information concerning substance use disorders and suicidality.
describe a process for addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in substance abuse treatment.
identify competencies for working with clients with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Source

Kenneth R. Conner, Psy.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York
Published by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Social Workers