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CE Course Description

Adolescent mental health, substance use, and suicide remain significant and growing concerns in the U.S., with many contributing factors, such as exposure to self-harm and suicide contagion through social media, in-person and cyberbullying, self-esteem and body image issues, stress, and peer pressure, among others. Social workers across many settings, including clinical, school, community, and healthcare settings, are increasingly likely to encounter adolescents at risk for suicide and are expected to respond appropriately.  This course provides information on warning signs of teen suicide as well as risk and protective factors, conducting suicide screening and risk assessments, implementing evidence-based safety planning interventions, and documenting risk and interventions. Trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate approaches to supporting youth following a suicide attempt, as well as responding to the impact of suicide deaths within families, schools, and communities, are also reviewed. 

Author: Amy Colver, MSSA, MA, LISW

CE Course Objectives

1. Describe current trends, myths, and disparities in teen suicide.
2. Identify warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of how to conduct structured suicide screening and risk assessments, develop trauma-informed safety plans, apply lethal‐means counseling strategies, and navigate crisis pathways and referral options.
4. Illustrate best practices for documenting risk and interventions.
5. Define basic postvention practices.

1.  Section 1: Introduction - (10 minutes)
   • Section 1: Course Summary - (2 minutes)
   • Section 1: Key Terms - (2 minutes)
2. Section 2: Warning Signs, Risk Factors, and Protective Factors - (7 minutes)
   • Section 2: Key Terms - (2 minutes)
3. Section 3: Suicide Screening and Risk Assessments - (8 minutes)
   • Section 3: Key Terms - (2 minutes)
4. Section 3: Reflection Questions - (1 minute)
5. Section 4: Trauma-Informed Safety Planning - (5 minutes)
   • Section 4: Reflection Questions - (1 minute)
6. Section 5: Lethal Means Counseling - (4 minutes)
7. Section 6: Navigating Clinical Pathways and Referral Options - (4 minutes)
8. Section 7: Documentation - (3 minutes)
9. Section 8: Implementing Basic Postvention Practices - (4 minutes)
   • Section 8: Key Terms - (1 minute)
10. Additional Resources - (3 minutes)
11. References 

Social Work Approval

Social Work CE Credit for this course is offered with the following approvals. Many state boards of social work will accept the approvals listed. Provider Approvals by state and license type can be found here.

• Quantum Units Education is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, CAMFT Provider #89970, to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEP. Quantum Units Education maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
• Florida board for Social Workers CE Provider #50-8650 (Quantum 'immediately' reports CE Credits to Florida licensees) 
• Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, License No. 159.001261 approved CE Sponsor
• Ohio CSWMFTB #RCST091701 approved CE Provider
• Texas Board of SWE #5070 approved CE Provider
• Quantum Units Education, #1289, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 01/03/2026 - 01/03/2029. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 'General' continuing education credits.

To see other approvals in your state, see our state by state provider approval listings here.

Course Development: Each course is identified and reviewed by the appropriate Quantum Units Education consultant with professional and licensed expertise in the various disciplines we serve. Our professional consultants oversee course development to satisfy the needs of various professionals based on their board requirements, rate course degrees of difficulty and ensure the course content and exam questions are appropriate, relevant and comprehensive. See our professional staff and their bios here.

*Questions regarding how to take a course, refunds, grievance policy and ADA policy can be found here.
*Questions regarding this course or need support? Contact us at support@quantumunitsed.com.

Added On: 09/08/2026