Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention for a Diverse Population
Presented by: Joyce Moore (Chu), PhD, Bruce Bongar, PhD, Peter Goldblum, PhD, and Christopher Weaver, PhD
10 Hours / 10 CEs
On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training
This on-demand professional training program on Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention for a Diverse Population is presented by Bruce Bonger, PhD, ABPP; Joyce Chu, PhD; Peter Goldblum, PhD, MPH and Christoper Weaver, PhD.
Though almost all mental health professionals encounter suicide risk within their practices, formal training on suicide risk assessment and intervention is sparse. This program focuses on the current gold standards for practice in suicide management. A usable framework and accessible guidelines ensure that participants are able to competently manage suicide risk in their practice, incorporating the latest standards in suicide science. Program content includes skills in conceptualizing dynamic versus static suicide risk factors, legal and ethical considerations, documentation, and other considerations.
While most health and behavioral health professionals have been trained to manage suicide with similar strategies and guidelines regardless of cultural identity or background, studies have long shown that suicide looks and develops differently in LGBTQ and ethnic minority groups. Through this training, participants will also learn how to incorporate cultural considerations and manage suicide in culturally diverse populations. This program provides a foundational understanding of how suicide differs across cultural groups and covers advances in the culturally competent assessment and management of suicide.
Participants learn state-of-science theoretical, measurement, and applied research as practical approaches to assist clinicians in accounting for cultural influences on suicide risk among diverse populations. The program utilizes a didactic presentation infused with clinical discussion and case practice.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- 1 Describe six key steps of suicide risk assessment and management
- 2 Describe clinical inquiry about suicidal ideation, behaviors, and risk to individual client needs
- 3 Describe dynamic versus static risk factors
- 4 Describe important clinical and legal documentation considerations involved in suicide risk management
- 5 Describe the latest research on cultural differences in suicide, and culturally competent assessment and prevention of suicide among ethnic minority and LGBTQ populations
- 6 Describe predominant barriers to training and practice in culturally competent suicide assessment and practice
- 7 Describe a guiding framework and assessment tools/approaches that advance culturally competent suicide practice with diverse populations
- 8 Describe a suicide risk case conceptualization and intervention plan
Training Instructors:
Joyce Moore (Chu), PhD
Joyce Chu, PhD, is a Professor at Palo Alto University. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in psychology at Stanford University, her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan, and did a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Chu co-leads the Multicultural Suicide and Ethnic Minority Mental Health Research Groups at PAU, and is also Director of the Diversity and Community Mental Health (DCMH) emphasis which trains future psychologists to work with underserved populations in the public mental health sector.
Bruce Bongar, PhD
Dr. Bruce Bongar, Ph.D., ABPP, FAPM, received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California and served his internship in clinical community psychology with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. For over 25 years, Dr. Bongar maintained a small practice specializing in psychotherapy, consultation and supervision in working with the difficult and life-threatening patient.
Peter Goldblum, PhD
Peter Goldblum, Ph.D., MPH, Co-Director of CLEAR, is professor of psychology at Palo Alto University. He received his Ph.D. from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now PAU), his MPH from UC, Berkeley School of Public Health, his MA in Psychology an Teaching from Teachers College-Coumbia, and his BA from the University of Texas, Austin. He was a founder and original Deputy Director of the UCSF AIDS Health Project and a visiting scholar and Director of the HIV Bereavement and Caregiver Study at Stanford.
Christopher Weaver, PhD
Dr. Christopher Weaver is an Associate Professor at Palo Alto University, and Director of PAU’s Forensic Psychology Program. Dr. Weaver received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Louisville, and has held research and clinical positions (pre- and postdoctoral) at the University of California, San Francisco and Stanford University. He has published in the areas of psychopathy and violence risk assessment, and more recently in the areas of substance abuse and psychological trauma.
CE Sponsorship Information
Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here.
American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.
Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).
Sponsorship Approval Statements
Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.