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 The AAP/Bright Futures recommend screening all kids 12 years and older for suicide risk.  Realistically, how do you incorporate another screening tool into your practice? Join us as we learn from Dr. Alisa Minkin,  a primary care pediatrician  who has spearheaded an effort to integrate screening for suicide risk in her large network of  practices in the New York metropolitan area.  We discuss:

*If you are already screening for depression with the PHQ9/A, do you really need a separate screener for suicide risk? (YES!)

*What is an efficient, fast, effective way to screen for suicide risk?

·      The Ask Suicide Screening Questionnaire (ASQ) - a 5 yes/no question tool

*How do you handle positive ASQ screens?

·      The ASQ toolkit provides follow-up questions to ask

*At which visits do you screen for suicide?

·      Well-visits for kids 11 years and older

·      Mental health “sick” visits

*What additional resources can help pediatricians in helping kids with suicidal thoughts?

·      Consider hiring a social worker to help with mental health referrals 

·      Call your state’s child psychiatry access program hotline to consult with a social workers and/or child psychiatrist

Alisa Minkin, MD is a primary care pediatrician from Oceanside, New York, and a mental health champion.  She is  the host of the JOWMA podcast which shares preventative health information geared to members of the Orthodox Jewish community.

Check out our website PsychEd4Peds.com for more resources.
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