Conversations with Families About Suicide Prevention and Safe Firearm Storage
September is Suicide Prevention Month and a timely reminder that there are many ways providers can help identify and support youth who are struggling with mental health issues and suicidal ideation.
Ways Providers Can Help
Provider training:
- All Patients Safe: Suicide Prevention for Medical Professionals is a 3- or 6-hour interactive self-paced training course designed to address the public health crisis and provide the necessary tools to medical providers for preventing and educating patients about suicide.
Provider tool:
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) is a tool that healthcare providers can use for suicide prevention with patient families. It is a civil court order that prevents individuals from harming themselves or others by temporarily denying access to firearms. Providers cannot file an ERPO directly, but they may consult on cases and discuss guidance for how to support families (like a consult on safety planning and connecting with mental health services) by contacting ERPO@kingcounty.gov, 206-477-1201.
Patient and family education:
- Use Seattle Children’s handouts to encourage families to safely store firearms in the home and to learn about the connection between teens, depression and firearms.
- See Tips for Provider Messaging on Safe Firearm Storage for guidance on how to have conversations about safe firearm storage with parents/guardians.
- Emphasize the importance of safe storage and disposal of medicines including over-the-counter medicines:
- From 2019 to 2021, cases of self-harm or suspected suicide increased to 58% in patients ages 6 to 12 and 37% in patients ages 13 to 17; substances used were antidepressants, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen (Washington Poison Center)
- Suicide Prevention: Help parents learn the common suicide warning signs and what to do if a child or teen has thoughts about suicide.
For more information, contact Suicide and Injury Prevention Program Manager Isabell Sakamoto at Isabell.Sakamoto@seattlechildrens.org.
Finding Mental Health Care: Options in English and Spanish
Seattle Children’s class, “Finding Mental Health Care in Washington State: A Class on Where to Start,” is available in Spanish as well as English this month, on Sept. 21. The class will be offered virtually (on Zoom) and includes a question-and-answer session.
Cost: Free
When: Sept. 21, 6 to 7 p.m. (Separate Spanish and English sessions offered at the same time)
Topics: Participants will learn about:
- The various types of outpatient mental health treatment and providers
- Locating mental health resources based on insurance coverage (Medicaid and commercial or private insurance)
- More intensive services and how to access them, as well as long-term care such as residential treatment
- Ways for caregivers to advocate for their child’s care
Referral: None needed
Registration: Families can register on the class website.
On-demand option: Families who cannot attend the live class have the option of watching a recording, found on the class website.
