Did you know you can now get UNLIMITED CE Hours for only $74.95?
Click Here to learn more.

CE Course Description

Suicide is a critical public health issue in the United States, with nearly half a million individuals visiting emergency rooms each year following a suicide attempt. Research shows that nearly one in seven young adults report experiencing suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives, and at least 5% have attempted suicide. This course will provide a comprehensive overview of suicide prevention, assessment, intervention, and safety planning. It will cover evidence-based risk assessment tools and crisis response strategies, which are essential components of effective and ethical social work practice. In this course, learners will explore practical techniques for identifying and responding to suicide risk. The material is designed to strengthen confidence and competence when navigating crisis situations.

Author: Kimberley Fortin, LCSW-R

CE Course Objectives

1. Discover different suicide risk assessments and best practices when identifying risk and protective factors in suicide.
2. Identify at least five high-risk suicide warning signs and five protective factors during suicide prevention.
3. Explain at least two evidence-based treatment and support services.

CE Course Outline

1. Introduction – 5 minutes
2. Section 1: Myths and Facts – 5 minutes
3. Section 2: Terminology – 6 minutes
4. Section 3: Prevalence– 10 minutes
   1. More about Firearms – 6 minutes
5. Section 4: Suicide Prevention– 8 minutes
   1. United States Efforts to Prevent Suicide – 8 minutes
   2. Social-Ecological Model – 8 minutes
   3. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – 5 minutes
   4. Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences – 4 minutes
   5. Positive Childhood Experiences – 3 minutes
6. Section 5: Suicide Risk– 8 minutes
   1. Zero Suicide – 8 minutes
   2. The Columbia Protocol – 6 minutes
   3. The ASQ – 6 minutes
7. Section 6: What is a suicide assessment?– 6 minutes
   1. Responding to Information About Suicide – 6 minutes
   2. Full Suicide Safety Assessment – 7 minutes
8. Section 7: Risk Stratification– 5 minutes
   1. Acute Risk – 4 minutes
   2. Chronic Risk – 4 minutes
9. Section 8: Interventions– 6 minutes
   1. Safety Plan – 5 minutes
   2. Psychotherapy – 7 minutes
10. Section 9: Ethical Dilemmas – 6 minutes
11. Section 10: Impact of a Suicide Loss– 6 minutes
    1. Suicide Loss of a Client – 7 minutes
12. Section 11: Workplace Suicide Prevention– 5 minutes
    1. Interactive Screening Program – 4 minutes
    2. Mental Health First Aid at Work – 4 minutes
13. Section 12: Summary – 5 minutes
14. References – 2 minutes 

Total Time: 180 minutes (3 hours)

Course Level: Intermediate

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: 01/03/2023 - 01/03/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 '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: 05/08/2025