For many of us, the idea of assessing and responding to suicide risk via telehealth seems overwhelming. As Jenna says, “the stakes are just a little higher.” But that’s all the more reason to become confident in the process; our patients deserve access to the best possible care, after all. In this episode, Dr. Kristyn Heins addresses common provider concerns about treating high risk patients over telehealth. Her common sense suggestions can reduce our collective anxiety and help us build our confidence in suicide prevention strategies.

Kristyn Heins, Ph.D., is a Licensed Professional Counselor serving as a Military Behavioral Health Counselor for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. In this role, she supports the CDP’s efforts of training clinicians in evidenced-based practice focused on suicide prevention. Prior to joining the CDP, Dr. Heins worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs in various roles including primary care mental health, and suicide prevention telehealth. Dr. Heins is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy- Suicide Prevention, and Problem Solving Therapy- Suicide Prevention. She also has worked in a Federally Qualified Health Center and in a non-profit setting.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). A validated and short self-report measure that can be utilized in a variety of settings. https://cssrs.columbia.edu/
• The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). A validated and short self-report measure used for depression screening. https://tinyurl.com/5n6u7p6j
• Suicide Cognitions Scale. A self-report measure to assess thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs that are commonly experienced by people who have attempted suicide. https://osf.io/bf8uy/
• CBT for Suicide Prevention Workshops presented by CDP. View our training calendar here to register for a workshop, then follow up with consultation. https://deploymentpsych.org/training

Calls-to-action:

• Get familiar with validated self-report measures
• Take a CBT-SP course
• Utilize your support and consultation resources
• Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice Podcast
• Subscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email - https://deploymentpsych.org/CDP-MED-Opt-In
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