Tools and Training
The Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program (SRM) provides free education and resources that promote therapeutic best practices for community or VA providers working with Veterans at risk for suicide.
On this page, you will find useful resources in the following categories:
You are welcome to schedule a free consultation with SRM experts to learn about these tools and how you can use them in your practice.
Clinical Tools
SRM provides clinical tools to assist providers in delivering therapeutic risk assessment and management. These resources are often discussed during consultation calls where we help apply them to a specific case or clinical question.
Clinical Practice Guideline for Suicide Prevention
The Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Patients at Risk for Suicide uses evidence-based information to guide health care providers in screening, evaluation, treatment, and case management. This site helps translate the clinical recommendations into tangible strategies by providing a roadmap and resources for how to apply them to the Service Members and Veterans you serve.
Risk Stratification
Feel confident when evaluating and documenting a Veteran's level of risk of suicide. As a best practice, we recommend documenting both acute and chronic levels of risk. Learn more and download the Risk Stratification tool.
Download examples of how to document your risk stratification.
Risk-Benefit Analysis
SRM consultants commonly talk to providers who feel confident about their clinical decision making but are unsure of the best way to document it in the medical record. We recommend documenting a risk-benefit analysis. Accurate medical record documentation increases communication between a patient's caregivers and leads to more informed decision making.
For best practices and documentation strategies, download Risk-Benefit Analysis documentation examples.
Measures
Suicide risk assessment completed via clinical interview can be augmented with objective measures. Thorough assessment of protective factors, including reasons for living, is an important area to explore. SRM recommends using the reasons for living (RFL) inventory, a self-report questionnaire that measures clients' expectancies about the consequences of living versus suicide and assesses the importance of various reasons for living. Access the RFL Inventory.
Trainings
These trainings offer basic and advanced information relevant to Veteran suicide prevention.
CPG for Suicide Prevention Webinar Series
The purpose of these webinars are to provide guidance on implementing the updated VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Patients at risk for Suicide (CPG). Each quarter, the SRM lecture offers a spotlight on the CPG. To receive information on these lectures, like topics, speakers, and registration links, please subscribe to this email distribution list.
Learn more about the CPG for Suicide Prevention Webinar SeriesSAVE Training through PsychArmor
Developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), this SAVE training strives to empower providers to play a vital role in suicide prevention. Training objectives include a greater understanding of suicide in the United States and how to identify and engage a Veteran at risk of suicide.
Learn about SAVETherapeutic Risk Management (TRM) of the Suicidal Patient
TRM is a clinically and medicolegally informed model for the assessment and management of suicide risk. SRM is founded in the principles of TRM.
Learn about TRMLethal Means Safety Counseling
Facilitating lethal means safety counseling is a key component to suicide prevention; these trainings offer information about lethal means that can be used to engage patients in a meaningful discussion about this important topic. CEU's are available for both VA and non-VA providers.
Learn about Lethal Means Safety CounselingHealth Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Cyberseminar Series
HSR&D Cyberseminar Series offers state-of-the-art training and special interest sessions, such as the Spotlight on Suicide Prevention series (search "Suicide Prevention" to find this series). CEU's are available if you register before the upcoming webinars.
Find upcoming and archived presentations
