Assessing & Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR):
Core Competencies for Mental Health Professionals

A one-day workshop for mental health professionals on assessing suicide risk, planning treatment,
and managing the ongoing care of the at-risk client.

Inquire with Doug Bisbee about setting up a training session for your team.

Sponsored by American Association of Suicidology, Suicide Prevention Resource Center and Mental Health America of WI

Workshop Objectives

Participants will gain knowledge in the following core competencies:

• Managing one’s own reactions to suicide
• Reconciling the difference and potential conflict between a clinician’s goal to prevent suicide and a client’s goal to eliminate psychological pain through suicide
• Maintaining a collaborative, non-adversarial stance
• Eliciting suicide ideation, behavior, and plans
• Making a clinical judgment of the risk that a client will attempt or complete suicide
• Collaboratively developing an emergency plan
• Developing a written treatment and services plan that addresses a client’s immediate, acute, and continuing suicide ideation and risk for suicide
• Developing policies and procedures for following clients closely
• Implementing the principles of crisis management

Workshop Components

• 6 ½ hours of training, comprised of an engaging mix of lecture and exercises
• A 110-page participant manual, including an extensive bibliography and other valuable resources
• A video presentation in eight segments, highlighting the competencies taught
• Journaling throughout the day and ample time for discussion

Presented by Therapist Doug Bisbee

Certified AMSR instructor Doug Bisbee, M.Div., MA, LPC, is a therapist and the Clergy and Congregation Care coordinator for Samaritan.

Continuing Education Credit

This program has been approved by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).  The Suicide Prevention Resource Center is authorized to award 6.5 NBCC clock hours and 6.5 NASW CE contact hours. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. SPRC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.  Participants may receive 6.5 hours of APA CE credit.

No partial credit will be given for partial attendance. No walk-ins will be accepted

Have questions or need additional information? Call presenter Doug Bisbee at (920) 886-9319 ext. 107.

Funding for this training was made possible in part by cooperative agreement SM060386 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written training materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.