Class Description
Approximately 46, 000 Americans died by suicide in 2020, which is equivalent to one person every 11 minutes. Unfortunately, individuals with gambling problems are at an increased risk for suicide ideation, suicidal attempts, and completion. About a third of callers to gambling helpline report suicidal ideation within the past year, and approximately 11% of callers report recent suicidal ideation. The purpose of this training is to examine suicide, its risk factors, and clinical practice within the context of individuals with gambling disorder.
Learning Objectives
- Describe at least four demographic and clinical risk factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in the context of gambling disorder
- Identify three risk assessment methods to help reduce the likelihood of a suicide attempt
- Discuss safety planning and its importance with an individual who reports current suicidal ideation and/or intent
Educational Goals
- Increase clinicians’ understanding of the correlation between gambling disorder and suicide risk
- Equip participants with practical assessment tools and protocols to identify clients at risk
- Promote ethical and collaborative clinician-client interactions during suicide risk evaluations
- Facilitate the integration of suicide prevention strategies into gambling disorder treatment plans
Outline
- Suicide Terminology and Prevalence (10 min.)
- Gambling and Suicide Statistics (5 min.)
- Overlap between risk factors for suicide and gambling disorder (45 min.)
- Routine screening for suicide (10 min.)
- Patient Safety Planning (20 min.)