Citation

Schwab-Reese LM, Kovar V, Brummett S, Runyan C. J. Public Health Policy 2018; 39(4): 424-445.

Affiliation

Colorado School of Public Health, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group -- Palgrave-Macmillan)

DOI

10.1057/s41271-018-0141-0

PMID

30097612

Abstract

Suicide is a critical public health problem, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths a year in the United States (U.S.) and 800,000 globally. Provision of mental health services is a key component of a comprehensive population-based approach to prevention. State licensing boards in some U.S. states require mental health practitioners to be trained in suicide risk assessment and management, but such requirements are not uniform. Our case study examined mental health practitioner preparedness to engage in suicide prevention and intervention in Colorado, a state with a high suicide rate, using a survey designed to understand training experiences and perceptions of the acceptability of mandated training. Our findings support efforts to require mental health practitioners be trained to prevent suicide.

Language: en

Keywords

Continuing education mandate; Mental health practitioners; Public health policy; State policy; Suicide prevention