Podcasts about columbia suicide severity rating scale

In today's episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sat down with Liz Nowland-Margolis, Executive Director of School Safety and District Operations for Ann Arbor Public Schools for part two of a two-part series on proactive student wellbeing through early intervention to discuss the importance of:• Proactive approaches to school safety, including early interventions for student wellbeing and the balance between hardening school infrastructure and maintaining a welcoming environment.• Implementation and significance of comprehensive assessment tools like the CSTAG and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, underscoring their role in early identification and support for students at risk.• Collaboration among school staff, law enforcement, and mental health services, as well as engaging and educating parents and the community about school safety protocols.Guest Liz Nolan-Margolis is an experienced professional with a background in marketing, communications, public relations, crisis planning, management, and response, as well as strategic planning. She has worked in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of School Safety and District Operations for Ann Arbor Public Schools. Liz has extensive experience in crisis management, including response training, communication response, crisis response team development, and on-site crisis response leadership. Her role involves a strong focus on school safety, implementing programs, and balancing safety initiatives with the educational environment.

In this episode, we talk about suicidal thoughts and feelings, specific instances of both suicidal actions and thoughts in the Bible, and provide encouragement and resources for anyone who may be experiencing this. If you or someone you love is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or call or text 988. You can find the assessment tool mentioned (the C-SSRS) in the episode by searching for the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale on the internet. We will talk more about that tool in a future episode.

Good Morning Veterans, Family, and Friends, and Everyone who has returned back to listen in on the SIXTH EPISODE of the Veteran Doctor. On this week's podcast, we will discuss More New Year’s Resolutions for Veterans and dig into the topic of Veteran Suicide. We have also will continue to fun facts with our section on UBI (Useful Bits of Information) and Veteran News. Later I will also be discussing my New Book that is coming out soon, My Veteran Blog, and the Podcast Patron/Sponsorship Program, so stick around for so great stuff to come. Welcome back to another month of fun and festivities. I hope the holidays have treated you well. Every year we get to this moment when we tell ourselves we are going to change some things in the coming year to better ourselves. The resolutions, or goals, are often not obtained due to lofty tasks and not being carefully thought out or planned in how they will be executed; like that of a military mission. Some common resolutions that many veterans look to achieve are categories of health, financial, mental health/happiness, and sharing or helping other veterans. I will look deeper into these goals to see if any of these things interest you as a focus of self-improvement in your upcoming year. Health Military veterans have always been healthy-minded individuals that have usually placed it as an essential part of their lives. It is expected that as the years' pass, many veterans forget about their previous military fitness regimens. Unfortunately, aging and life impact us all, but it doesn’t have to be quite so brutal if we take care of ourselves through exercise and eating right. Remember back when you started basic training, and you made (or were forced) to make a resolution to create a healthy routine. This does not mean you have to do 1000 pushup and sit-ups in the middle of the hot sun, but instead, you should start small and build up from there. Vow to make your health and fitness a priority in your life and a part of your daily routine. It is hard to resist the healthy feeling you will have when you are currently ill and overweight from an inactive lifestyle. So ultimately, set a small, realistic goal. Even if you just start walking 15 to 20 minutes a day, then built up from there in moderation, it will be worth it in the end. Do it for yourself. You will find that you will start feeling better and have more energy if you eat right and start taking better care of yourself. Financial Taking care of your body is only one part of the equation; taking care of your wallet is another part. This is an area that is sometimes very difficult for many people. Not everyone has the ability or luxury to save money, but there are a few simple things that you can do with your money to make it stretch further. Finding coupons is an easy way to save your hard-earned cash. Many people do not realize that coupons are everywhere, like the daily newspaper and even online, that applied to nearly every type of purchase. Another way to save more money is through Groupon. This resource allows you to save a lot of money in Las Vegas. Spending time to look up coupons online can save you thousands of dollars a year. There are also many discounts throughout the Las Vegas area as long as you research and ask. If they say “no,” then say respectfully “thank you.” It doesn’t hurt to inquire about a military discount. There are more discounts out there than you think. Some very recognizable ones are Vettix.org. These are free concerts, shows, and event tickets for veterans. Another benefit for veterans is Free National Parks Pass for veterans at www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes for free passes to any national park-like Lake Mead. Another great local resource is lv.houseseats.com to great show seats for local Las Vegas shows. There is a nominal fee for the annual membership, but it is well worth the cost and pays for itself upon the first use. Take the extra time to search for savings, and your wallet will thank you. You will also have fun too. Mental Health / Happiness This should be the easiest one, but for many, it is not. For veterans suffering from PTSD, or poor Mental Wellness, finding happiness can often be extremely challenging. A large percentage of veterans in the United States continue to struggle with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while society continues to look for ways to help these heroes. PTSD is diagnosed as being a mental health issue that results from having experienced or witnessed traumatic events and can result in symptoms of severe anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, insomnia, agitation, flashbacks, isolation, and other harmful side-effects. PTSD can debilitate a veteran's work, family, and social life to a level of being nonfunctional. Unfortunately, PTSD can be linked to the high suicide rate for U.S. veterans. Recent studies by the VA estimate that 20 veterans commit suicide every day. Even though veterans represent only 9% of the population, they make up 18% of Americans who commit suicide. Society has begun to recognize that the U.S. veteran population needs help overcome the residual effects of war. Many times, some veterans need to know that there are many similar people out there that have traveled, and made it through, similar experiences of PTSD. A person living with PTSD never knows when a flashback might occur, or when something may trigger the memories, and what the physical reactions may be. Sometimes keeping up a happy appearance during the bout of depression can be just as exhausting and too much to handle as the original traumatic experience. There is a wide range of 24-hour veteran crisis hotlines available for veterans who find themselves seriously struggling with these challenges. Any veteran can call toll free: 1-800-273-8255 and press “1” to reach someone immediately through the VA’s crisis line; their website also has confidential online chat and text options, as well as help for veterans with hearing impairment. In many cases, just allowing veterans to talk through your emotions or mental state can release them from the moment, and knowing that they are not alone can give them the strength they need. Sharing and helping other veterans Many veterans have an innate sense of duty to help other people. Why not help other veterans or share your time if you sense they are lonely. Take up a new indoor or outdoor hobby with them. Some veterans who are experiencing specific symptoms of PTSD – repetitive thoughts, racing mind, sensitivity to certain trigger noises, anxiety from being in crowds – can benefit from the peace acquired from hobbies. There is a wide range of hobbies and organizations that solely exist to help give veterans the chance to learn a new activity to quiet and heal the mind. Another great way of sharing is getting involved with dog adoption agencies that are involved with veterans. Dogs help offer the benefit of companionship without any judgments or expectations to veterans who are challenged with the isolation and irritability from PTSD. Dogs are naturally vigilant and help remove that anxiety from a veteran who is experiencing difficulty with sleep. Most pets enjoy giving, receiving affection, and are naturally soothing. Dogs also are dependent on their owners, making them the main reason for a veteran to hold on, knowing they need to care for their pet in the future. Whether a veteran requires a highly-trained dog that can detect and react to signs of severe PTSD or a simple companion dog that is always there to hang out, there are specific programs that can help veterans, typically at little or no cost. This year, we need to resolve to help one another find the happiest of times. If you know a veteran who is suffering from loss or mental health issues, get help immediately. Every day is precious and being mentally fit and happier is imperative. Sharing this information can also bring joy to others. If you know a veteran that needs some extra attention, help them out. Extending a helping hand, or paying it forward, makes the world a better place, and brings happiness to the heart. Hopefully, this past year has brought you some great fun and memories. I hope and wish that the upcoming year will bring even better ones. Have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Veteran Suicide – A Very Real and Serious Issue For nearly a decade, the veteran community has called for action by our nation’s leaders to respond to the 20 veterans a day suicidal rate. The issue of veteran suicide is now its conversation in media coverage, national conversation, and a surge of government support. Yet, the problem of suicide continues. According to recent VA data, post-9/11 veterans between ages 18 to 34 have the highest rate of suicide. Though not always an indicator of suicide, mental health injuries continue to impact the post-9/11 generation. Surprisingly, 65% reported PTSD, and 58% anxiety, and 56% depression. The nation and VA continue struggling with mental health care and providers’ demands, two of the top VA staffing shortages. There has been some progress. In mental health injuries, 3 in 4 are seeking care for their injury. Over the past few years, increased progress has been made in the realm of suicide prevention and mental health. The VA’s plan for transitioning veterans’ targets those in the post-9/11 population as an increased risk of suicide and engage them before the moment of crisis. The VA has leveraged telemental health care to expand its reach and predictive analytics to target the top 0.1% of veterans at risk for suicide. According to a recently released report by the Department of Veterans Affairs veterans’ suicide rate ticked upwards recently despite increased public attention and funding on this problem. However, the latest data still does not represent the present conditions. According to mental health experts, this ongoing coronavirus pandemic may cause larger increases in the rates of mental distress and self-harm among veterans. Approximately from 2005 to 2018, the overall suicide rate has remained mostly unchanged, between 17 and 18 veterans a day. This rate is about 1.5 times that of the civilian population, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Among veterans, suicide rates remain about the same as the civilian U.S. population, but both are rising. Recent studies have announced that 325 active-duty members died by suicide in 2018, 40 more than in 2017, which has been the highest number since data started to be collected in 2001. Nobody knows why suicide rates continue to climb. Numerous public figures and awareness campaigns in recent years have quoted the figure of “20 or 22 a day” in reference to veterans’ suicide, but VA officials clarified that this estimate includes active-duty troops, guardsmen, and reservists. Many fault demographics—85 percent of the veterans are male, and men die by suicide more often than women. But we also know that even female veterans die by suicide at a higher rate than civilians. In the 2019 VA suicide prevention annual report, women veterans’ suicide rate was 2.2 times greater than that of civilian women. In addition to the demographics, factors of insomnia, depression, anxiety, sexual victimization, gun ownership, and substance use disorders also appear to contribute to suicidal risk. Older veterans also cope with aging, stress, or lingering effects of their military service that has never been addressed from the past, while many recently discharged veterans seem to have trouble with their relationships or transitioning challenges back to civilian life. Now, psychologists within and outside the VA are leading efforts to improve suicide risk assessment and research to better understand and prevent veteran suicide. They are also developing and piloting interventions at both individual and community levels to respond to this deadly issue. The recently released figures show that veterans who have died by suicide in 2018 were 6,435, up less than half a percent over the total veterans’ population. By comparison, there have been 7,032 troop deaths in conflict zones since 9/11, according to Defense Department statistics. Veterans suicides made up approximately 14 percent of the total suicides in America in 2018. In recent years, VA officials have emphasized that mental health challenges and suicidal thoughts are not specific to the veterans’ community. Findings highlighted the increasing problem of suicide among U.S. civilian adults and veterans and the need for suicide risk mitigation efforts. Despite the lack of general progress in suicide prevention among veterans, some improvements have been occurring. Data shows that the rate of suicide among veterans who have used VA health services has decreased, and it is an encouraging sign that the department continues to learn as its works and cares for veterans. The suicide rate among veterans who receive VA care has decreased by about 2.4 percent from 2017 to 2018. Data has shown that suicide is indeed preventable through clinical and community-based prevention interventions, along with research and surveillance within the VA. Although this report explains that suicide is preventable, suicide prevention is exceptionally complex. Recently, Senate lawmakers passed a package of nine VA-themed bills to improve the department’s suicide prevention efforts. However, new incentives for the safe storage of firearms among veterans were proposed. A VA suicide report shows that firearms were involved in more than 68 percent of veterans suicides in 2018 compared to 48 percent of the rest of the American population. A recent statistic has been widely quoted in the veteran community that highlights “22 veterans a day” committing suicide. It is a profoundly troubling statistic and has galvanized the veteran movement, both from inside the veteran communities and outside, to bring about a wide range of programming nationwide. The statistic, however, is widely misrepresented and misunderstood. This statement — 22 veterans a day commit suicide — while widely advertised by politicians, media outlets, veterans service organizations comes from the VA’s 2012 Suicide Data Report, which examined the deaths of 21 states from 1999 to 2011. The report found that the estimated number of veterans was compared from a sample number of states, and evidence was uncertain in veteran identifiers on U.S. death certificates. An example shows that veteran suicides’ average age was nearly 60 years old, not representative of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans’ generation. A more current study surveyed 1.3 million veterans discharged between 2001 and 2009, discovering 1650 deployed veterans and 7703 non-deployed veteran deaths. Three hundred fifty-one of those were suicides among deployed veterans, and 1517 were suicides among non-deployed veterans. So, over nine years, there was one veteran suicide a day. Although veterans have a suicide rate 50 percent higher than those who have never served, the rate of suicide was slightly higher among veterans who never deployed, which suggests that these causes extend beyond the trauma of war. Coming home from war or merely transitioning from the military can be difficult. Various state and federal systems are set up to deal with this transition, how, ever cannot meet the need. Many people think that Veterans Affairs benefits programs like medical care, the G.I. Bill, the VA Home Loan, etc. are not helpful; however, they are. But, for the current generation of veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the suicide rate is closer to probably one a day and most likely occurs within the first three years of return. While this is still very troubling, it definitely is not 22. Although additional steps are needed to bridge the gap created by those who serve and those who have not, providing support for veterans to integrate back into their families and communities requires robust public-private partnerships. The veterans and the communities they live in are both responsible for bridging these gaps. The challenges of adjustment to transition, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and physical disabilities need to be addressed mainly as these things result in barriers in education, health care, employment, and overall individual well-being. Overall, the majority of these needs are being met by combining different veteran-serving nonprofits and VA support; however, many veterans do not know how to navigate this process. Unfortunately, there are still visible gaps in the system. The veteran advocacy community needs to tailor our programs, especially in preventing suicides, to respond to this concerning data. One suicide is one suicide too many. Effective programs to help service members, veterans, and families transition to a positive life after service are necessary. Another requirement is promoting supportive community relationships for veterans. We need to be developing programs specifically to address veterans’ needs while maintaining preventative care for recently returned veterans. As veterans, we all pride ourselves on not making an emotional decision but the right decision. We should have the same commitment with veterans, which means we need to act within the framework of facts — advocacy and programming. Inadvertently, we are preying on a well-intentioned public by citing a misleading statistic to receive financial support, and that is not right. As veterans, we are far more resilient than we give ourselves credit. If we do our jobs and extend a helping hand to our fellow veterans, we can reduce that suicide rate and ensure our fellow veterans avoid despair in the future. Screening and Evaluation Expansion The VA started a universal screening for suicide risk in all primary-care settings beginning in October 2018 and has conducted over 3.8 million veteran screenings for suicide. The screening protocol has three parts: The first part consists of primary screening for suicide risk using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, typically conducted by a registered nurse. If that screening indicates a positive result, the nurse will handoff the veteran to the primary-care provider to conduct a secondary screening utilizing the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. If that screening is positive, then a comprehensive suicide risk evaluation is conducted by the primary care provider. Another strategy deployed by the VA to help identify veterans at risk is REACH VET, a computer-based statistical risk algorithm that flags veterans based on their electronic health records. The program aims to identify and allow for preemptive care and support for veterans, usually before an individual even develops suicidal thoughts. Once a veteran has been recognized by REACH VET, the veteran’s VA mental health specialist calls to check up on them and conduct an additional evaluation to help determine any enhanced care is needed. Promising interventions After veterans at risk for suicide have been identified, the next step is to offer effective interventions. Over the past ten years, researchers have found that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce suicidal thoughts and behavior for veterans at risk. But limitations of these psychotherapy approaches is that they require multiple sessions and are not easily implemented. To get more direct care to these patients, a 20- to 40­-minute intervention called the Safety Planning Intervention, designed to provide veterans with different coping strategies, reduce access to potential suicide methods like firearms and lethal medications, and help them establish follow-up treatment. The research found that veterans who received this intervention were 45 percent less likely to attempt suicide with a safety plan in place for veterans. Other promising VA suicide prevention interventions focus on technology to help patients at risk for suicide. A smartphone app has shown success in increasing the veterans’ coping abilities with unpleasant thoughts and emotions. The Virtual Hope Box app is modeled after CBT methodology that uses a physical box containing images that remind patients of positive experiences, people who care about them, reasons for living, or coping resources. Users can upload personal photos, videos, songs, and quotes; complete relaxation exercises, puzzles, and guided meditations; additional tools include coping mechanisms, including self-created cards and a phone contact list. One of the essential aspects of suicide prevention among veterans is ensuring ongoing access to mental health care is available, particularly during transition times, when suicide risk can be higher. A unique way the military is working to ensure veterans have constant access to quality mental health care through its inTransition program, which offers expert coaching and assistance to find a new mental health provider for veterans. The program was created to ensure a good handoff between mental health providers when veterans are transitioning. During the initial months after separation from the military, there is an increased risk to psychological health. That is why inTransition targets service members receiving psychological care in the 12 months before their military transition. All veterans are eligible for the program, and inTransition will find any local veteran care, even in the absence of VA. Even though the program is new, results are beginning to show successful increases in the veteran transition to new mental health providers. Focusing on lethal means safety While much of the VA’s efforts around preventing suicide focus on identifying and treating mental health issues, some experts point to the preventative measure surrounding firearms. Research shows that around 70% of military suicides involve firearms, compared with approximately 50% of suicides in the U.S. general population. The military is more likely to own firearms and knows how to use them and that they are more likely to use firearms for the purpose of suicidal behavior as compared with the general population An example can be shown that the firearm storage practices of more than 1,600 active-duty personnel from 2015 and 2018 at military primary-care facilities across the U.S. They found that nearly 36% of participants reported owning a firearm, but less than a third of those said their firearms were safely stored. About half indicated their firearms were not safely stored. More effort is needed to encourage veterans to keep their firearms safely. Findings from nonmilitary populations suggest this is an additional way to reduce suicide risk. Locking up a gun will not prevent an argument with a spouse or overwhelming stress, but it could reduce the likelihood of these circumstances resulting in death. The Veterans Health Administration is educating clinicians about the importance of asking veterans about firearms and whether they are safely stored, educating veterans about having friends restrict their firearms access during stressful times. Using communities as support Psychologists are looking for ways to prevent military suicides by looking for outside of military solutions. According to the 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, the suicide rate of veterans receiving recent VA care increased by 1.3%, while the suicide rate among veterans who were not receiving current VA care increased by 11.8%. Another effort to provide a greater understanding of the role that communities play in their prevention of suicide is Operation Deep Dive. The study examines the community-based factors involved in suicide among veterans. It has developed a “sociocultural death investigation” tool to be used by researchers to conduct interviews with family members, colleagues, and friends of deceased veterans to better understand the lives of veterans who recently died by suicide. The goal is to identify the opportunities of prevention before a veteran enters any suicide situation. Operation Deep Dive ultimately looks to where the community might have prevention points to divert an individual on the trajectory to suicidal death. Hopefully this information has increased your knowledge on this serious social issue. If you a veteran in need or you know of a veteran who needs help please use the information below to help them. Veterans experiencing any mental health emergency should contact the Veteran Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and select option 1 for VA staff personnel. Veterans or their family members can also text 838255 or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net for assistance.   References: Bare, S. (2015). The Truth About 22 Veteran Suicides A Day. Task and Purpose. Retrieved From https://taskandpurpose.com/support/truth-22-veteran-suicides-day/ Novotney, A. (2020). Stopping military and veteran suicides. American Psychological Association (APA). Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/01/ce-corner-suicide Shane, L. (2020). Suicide Rate Among Veterans Up Again Slightly Despite Focus on Prevention Efforts. Military Times. Retrieved from https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/11/12/suicide-rate-among-veterans-up-again-slightly-despite-focus-on-prevention-efforts/ Image provided by Bare, S. (2015). The Truth About 22 Veteran Suicides A Day. Task and Purpose. Retrieved From https://taskandpurpose.com/support/truth-22-veteran-suicides-day/

Kellie Peiper joins Mike Cendoma on Skull Sessions to discuss Stressors and Identity shifts. Video clips from Skull Sessions available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/SportsMedConcepts References & Information: Link to Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/# Link to National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Publications-Reports/Guides/Navigating-a-Mental-Health-Crisis/Navigating-A-Mental-Health-Crisis Link to National Athletic Trainers' Association Mental Health EAP Guidelines: https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/mental_health_eap_guidelines.pdf

Mary Leposa joins Mike Cendoma on Skull Sessions to discuss mental health crisis assessment. Video clips from Skull Sessions available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/SportsMedConcepts References & Information: Link to Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/# Link to National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Publications-Reports/Guides/Navigating-a-Mental-Health-Crisis/Navigating-A-Mental-Health-Crisis Link to National Athletic Trainers' Association Mental Health EAP Guidelines: https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/mental_health_eap_guidelines.pdf

Speakers: Lisa Brown Alexander, CEO, Nonprofit HR Lisa Dinhofer, Founder, Koden Consulting Services, LLC Bonus Resources: Grief vs Depression Checklist, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Chronic Stress Resilience Building Exercise & A letter to the Post Pandemic Social Impact Leader Traditional definitions and paradigms of what it means to be an effective leader have been upended, some would say permanently, by this year's multiple crises. Until now, psychological safety in the workplace was not viewed as a leadership imperative nor was its connection to the financial health of organizations well understood. Listen in on an in-depth conversation exploring what the ‘impact of everything' has been on the well-being of those in the C Suite and their stakeholders. You will hear specific information on the symptoms and drivers of crisis-related thinking and behaviors that can jeopardize the longevity of leadership tenure and organizational sustainability. Recommendations will be provided to help leaders navigate the new, unfamiliar and uncomfortable demands impacting themselves and those they employ. See upcoming Nonprofit HR events www.nonprofithr.com/events

Mental Health and Older Adults: Important Concerns and Future Directions “Both older adults and younger folks die by suicide, which is why mental health is a big public health issue that is often underfunded.” — Luming Li, M.D. One of the top leading causes of death in America is suicide - making mental health a critical topic. In this week's episode, we are joined by Luming Li, M.D., and Michael Schoenbaum, Ph.D., who are helping to advance the work of prevention of mental health conditions. Part One of ‘Mental Health and Older Adults: Important Concerns and Future Directions’ Luming Li, M.D. is an Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and currently serves as the Associate Medical Director of Quality Improvement of the Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital. Her clinical focus is on patients with severe psychiatric conditions that require complex systems of care.  She works clinically as an inpatient psychiatrist at the transitional age, dual-diagnosis psychiatric/substance disorder units at the Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital, and serves as a consultant psychiatrist in the Nathan Smith Clinic for patients with HIV. She has research and educational interests in healthcare policy, hospital management, clinical redesign, leadership development, operational efficiency, and quality improvement.  Dr. Li completed a 7-year B.A./M.D. program at Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and residency training at the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. She has also served on national committees within the American Psychiatric Association (APA), including the Health Systems and Financing Committee (2017-2018), and was an APA Public Psychiatry Fellowship recipient. She is a 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow and American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow. Michael Schoenbaum (PhD in Economics, University of Michigan, 1995) is Senior Advisor for Mental Health Services, Epidemiology, and Economics in the NIMH's Division of Services and Intervention Research. He conducts analyses of public health and mental health service issues in support of Institute decision-making. He works to strengthen NIMH's relationships with public and private stakeholders to increase the public health impact of NIMH-supported research. He has worked extensively on expanding and improving identification and treatment of suicide risk; on improving treatment for behavioral health issues in general medical settings, and on broader implementation of the evidence-based Collaborative Care model to do so, and on facilitating the adoption of coordinated specialty care for early psychosis. Before joining NIMH in 2006, Dr. Schoenbaum was a Robert Wood Johnson Scholar in health policy at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1995-1997, and an economist at the RAND Corporation from 1997-2014 (adjunct 2006-2014). Part Two of ‘Mental Health and Older Adults: Important Concerns and Future Directions’ Many suicides are associated with mental health and/or substance use conditions; we might all wish for better treatments. But for now, from public health or a clinical care perspective, we have to work with the treatments that exist.  There's a national conversation about the need for better mental health and substance use care because everybody is concerned that the pandemic might be increasing risk. However, the conversation may also represent an opportunity to do better in ways that we could or should have pursued before the pandemic. There are different steps and components to zero suicide, but how do we measure that it's being implemented? Everything must be aligned with the evidence. Due to science development, there are now many ways to find people with suicide risk, which is essential because we can't help them if we can't find them. There are approaches to use evidence-based tools to accomplish what the goals are for the different steps. For example, one of the things that can be used is the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale or C-SSRS. It's a suicidal ideation and behavior screening scale created by researchers at Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, and New York University to evaluate suicide risk. The Collaborative Care Model is “one approach to integration in which primary care providers, care managers, and psychiatric consultants work together to provide care and monitor patients’ progress. These programs have been shown to be both clinically-effective and cost-effective for a variety of mental health conditions, in a variety of settings, using several different payment mechanisms” (UnützerJ, et al., 2013). “National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a useful resource not just for people who are struggling, but also if you know someone who is struggling, you can call the lifeline to get advice about how to help other people.” —  Michael Schoenbaum, Ph.D. The good news is that our science has identified many specific practices that would let us do better if we moved from current practice to broader use of better evidence-based practices. According to recent data, more people are reaching out and connecting well with telehealth services. Therefore, more needs to be done in terms of adequately communicating about the available services.  How to Find Resources to Help with Suicide The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 160 crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 1-800-273-8255, available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, is an excellent place to start to know what the current status is on services. It's essential to try to reach out proactively to people whom you worry might be isolated and see how they're doing. How to Find Resources to Help with Substance Abuse or Misuse SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information. Also visit the online treatment locators. And here’s info on How 2-1-1 works! Types of Referrals Offered by 211   Basic Human Needs Resources – including food and clothing banks, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance. Physical and Mental Health Resources – including health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, and drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation. Work Support – including financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs. Access to Services in Non-English Languages - including language translation and interpretation services to help non-English-speaking people find public resources (Foreign language services vary by location.) Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities – including adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation and homemaker services. Children, Youth and Family Support – including child care, after-school programs, educational programs for low-income families, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services. Suicide Prevention – referral to suicide prevention help organizations. How to Connect More with Luming Li, M.D. and Michael Schoenbaum: Luming Li: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luming-li/ Michael Schoenbaum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-schoenbaum-aa23a7b/ Connection of the NIMH to the Center for Aging, Health and Humanities  Dr. Cohen served as the first Chief of the Center on Aging of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) -- the first federal center on mental health and aging established in any country. During his tenure with the federal government, he received the Public Health Service's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Medal. The late Gene D. Cohen, MD, PhD, founded The George Washington University (GW) Center for Aging, Health and Humanities (CAHH) in 1994 and served as director until his death in 2010. In addition to founding the CAHH, Dr. Cohen served as founding Director of The Washington, DC Center on Aging, a Think Tank. He was president of the Gerontological Society of America from 1996-1997 and served as Acting Director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health from 1991-1993. At GW, he also held professorial positions in Health Care Sciences and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. In addition, he also coordinated the Department of Health and Human Services' planning and programs on Alzheimer's disease, through the efforts of the Department's Council and Panel on Alzheimer's Disease.   In 2019, Dr. Cohen’s work was archived as a Special Collection and University Archive at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. About Melissa I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (‘96) and Master of Science in Nursing (‘00) as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing (SON). I truly enjoy working with the complex medical needs of older adults. I worked full-time for five years as FNP in geriatric primary care across many long-term care settings (skilled nursing homes, assisted living, home and office visits) then transitioned into academic nursing in 2005, joining the faculty at UNCW SON as a lecturer. I obtained my PhD in Nursing and a post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing (’11) and then joined the faculty at Duke University School of Nursing as an Assistant Professor. My family moved to northern Virginia in 2015 and led to me joining the faculty at George Washington University (GW) School of Nursing in 2018 as a (tenured) Associate Professor where I am also the Director of the GW Center for Aging, Health and Humanities. Find out more about her work at https://melissabphd.com/.

Speakers: Lisa Brown Alexander, SPHR, President & CEO, Nonprofit HR Lisa Dinhofer, M.A., C.T. , “The Crisis Tamer”, Koden Consulting Services, LLC. Christine Allen, Ph.D., Workplace Psychologist/Executive Coach, Insight Business Works Bonus Resources:  Grief vs Depression Checklist, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, & Chronic Stress Resilience Building Exercise The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed our reality. Some of your workforce may be finding healthy ways to cope with concerns about their health, safety and jobs, while others may be experiencing grief, either due to the loss of a friend, loved one, co-worker, or death toll stories they are reading about. As employee grief continues to manifest itself in the workplace, leaders and HR professionals are faced with how to manage this among their staff. Listen in to better understand signs of grief, trauma and depression among your workforce during a crisis and how they can impact the achievement of your nonprofit's mission. Gain insight into how you as an HR or organizational leader can help your employees cope during this difficult time. Learn how to better manage related performance issues, recommend helpful resources, and help build resiliency in your staff.  Increasing understanding of these issues and developing a strategy to address them as we prepare for our “new normal” are an important part of your talent management strategy in these unprecedented times.

In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor is joined by Dr. Kelly Posner, the author of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Suicide prevention requires finding those who are suffering. The symptoms of depression can lead to suicide and 50% of people who commit suicide have seen their primary care doctor the month before they die. If we can be testing for suicide ideology like we test for blood pressure, we can correctly help those in need. The Columbia Scale questions are prescriptive enough for non-professionals, but flexible enough for the mental health professional to administer it. Suicide is a problem of our shared humanity, but it can be preventable.For more information about The Columbia Scale/ Columbia Protocol:About the Scale: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/the-columbia-scale-c-ssrs/about-the-scale/About the Columbia Lighthouse Project: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/• About the Columbia Protocol App:- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/columbia-protocol/id1450966911- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.pssolutions.lighthouse&hl=en_US

Today we're discussing the serious topic of teen suicide with Jenna Glover, PhD, MS, of the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Colorado. Dr. Glover is the Director of Clinical Psychology Training at Children's Colorado and an assistant professor of child psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Mental health and suicide prevention resources from the episode: Primary care provider toolkit from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center PHQ-9 (.pdf) screening tool Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (.pdf) "13 Reasons Why" Colorado Crisis Services Second Wind Fund National Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) MentalHealth.gov

This week we review some of the different aspects used in assessment of the suicidal patient who presents to the ED. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_28_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Depression, Suicide Assessment Show Notes ERCast: Suicide Risk ERCast: Is My Patient Suicidal Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Read More

This week we review some of the different aspects used in assessment of the suicidal patient who presents to the ED. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_28_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Depression, Suicide Assessment Show Notes ERCast: Suicide Risk ERCast: Is My Patient Suicidal Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Read More

This week we review some of the different aspects used in assessment of the suicidal patient who presents to the ED. https://media.blubrry.com/coreem/content.blubrry.com/coreem/Episode_28_0_Final_Cut.m4a Download Leave a Comment Tags: Depression, Suicide Assessment Show Notes ERCast: Suicide Risk ERCast: Is My Patient Suicidal Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Read More

This audio program discusses a project in China that introduced psychiatry to thousands of rural physicians; how disorders of fear extinction could be used as a model for anxiety disorders; the validity of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale; the connection between age at immigration and the future risk of psychotic disorders; and the relationship of childhood trauma to psychosis across different types of genetic risk, psychopathology, and trauma. Articles can be viewed online at www.ajp.psychiatryonline.org.