Suicide Prevention and Awareness in the Time of COVD-19:
Caring for Our Patients and Ourselves
Presented by Megan Freeman, Ph.D.
2 Suicide Homestudy CE Credits

 

Approved for NV Psychologists, LCSWs and MFTs.
NPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. NPA maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Click here to register

About the Workshop:

This pre-recorded presentation provides an evidence-based update on deaths by suicide in Nevada and nationwide. Additionally, in light of an abundance of anecdotal evidence and media sensationalism related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, this workshop provides evidence-based information about changes in national and international prevalence of behavioral health concerns; suicidal ideation and behavior; and deaths by suicide. Participants will learn what steps they need to take in their everyday practice to address increases in suicidal behavior and deaths by suicide. Participants will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed their practice and how it is impacting them personally, to the extent they are comfortable sharing. The group will discuss strategies to maintain physical and psychological health so that we can thrive personally during this time of global crisis, and so we can provide the best possible care to patients. Policy and legislative updates on 988, mobile crisis response, crisis stabilization, and crisis residential services will be described. The format will be didactic and discussion based.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this pre-recorded workshop, attendees will be able to:
1) Summarize national and local statistics related to death by suicide.
2) Identify meaningful changes in prevalence of behavioral health concerns, suicide ideation and attempts, and death by suicide in both children and adults, as reported in the scientific literature since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic.
3) Discuss the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color and low-income communities.
4) Referencing guidance from the National Office of Suicide Prevention, describe the importance of their role as a healthcare provider and the specific steps they need to take in preventing suicide.
5) Summarize the State of Nevada's plan for implementing federal legislation relating to 988, a single phone number for mental health crisis, mandated to go live nationwide on July 16, 2022.

Audience:
This presentation is intended for psychologists, other licensed mental health providers, and graduate students of psychology. 

About the Presenter:

Megan Freeman, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist with Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and serves as the state’s Children’s Behavioral Health Authority. Dr. Freeman was trained at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Dr. Freeman’s background and expertise is in public mental health systems, state legislation and policy, Medicaid policy development and implementation, and program evaluation and quality improvement in community mental health settings. She is experienced in stakeholder engagement, cross-system collaboration, and applied implementation of evidence-based practices for children and families. Dr. Freeman's CV

General Information:

Access to Webinar/Handout Materials

This is a 2-hour pre-recorded presentation for homestudy CE credit. Electronic copy of handout materials will be sent out by email to attendee after registration is completed along with link(s) to view pre-recorded live, virtual webinar.

Refunds & Grievance Policies

Participants may direct questions or complaints to NPA to 888-654-0050. 

Approval and CE Credit

Approved by Nevada Board of Psychological Examiners. Nevada Psychological Association (NPA) is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. NPA maintains responsibility for the program and its content. 

NPA will issue certificates of completion. APA CE rules require that we only issue credits to those who watch the entire pre-recorded presentation and complete and pass an online posttest question form. The online posttest question form, required to complete for CE credit, will include posttest questions provided by the presenter as well as two attendance verification words which were spoken randomly by the presenter during the pre-recorded presentation. Attendees are required to list the attendance verification words on the posttest form and correctly answer the posttest questions provided by the presenter. A passing grade of at least 75% is required to receive CE credit. If your tabulated score is under 75%, CE credit will not be given.

References:

Blanc, J. (2021). Addressing psychological resilience during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A rapid review. Current Opinions in Psychiatry, 34, 29-35.

Ceban, F. et al (2021). Association between mood disorders and risk of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 1818. doi: 10.1001

Fortuna, L.R., Tolou-Shams, M., Robles-Ramamurthy, B., & Porche, M. (2020). Inequity and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color in the United States: The need for a trauma-informed social justice response. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(5), 443-445. doi: 10.1037/tra0000889

Holland, K.M. et al. (2020). Trends in US emergency department visits for mental health, overdose, and violent outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.4402

Hoover, S. & Bostic, J. (2020). Improving the Child and Adolescent Crisis System: Shifting from a 9-1-1 to a 9-8-8 Paradigm. Alexandria, VA: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.

Lennon, J.C. (2020). What lies ahead: Elevated concerns for the ongoing suicide pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. 12(S1), S118-119. doi: 10.1037/tra0000741

Linton, S.L., Leifheit, K. M., McGinty, E.E., Barry, C.L., & Pollack, C.E. (2021). Association between housing insecurity, psychological distress, and self-rated health among US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA Network Open, 4(9):e2127772. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.27772

Racine, N., et al. (2021). Global prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents during COVID-19: A meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics, 175(11), 1142-1150. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2482.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (2020). National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care – A Best Practice Toolkit. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.


There is no potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support for this program or its presenter.