Advanced Topics in Interpersonal Practice

Suicide is a complex problem that results in over one million worldwide deaths each year and is projected to result in 1.5 million deaths by the year 2020 (Bertolote & Fleischmann, 2002; World Health Organization, 2009). Additionally, the Michigan Department of Community Health identified suicide as the leading cause of injury deaths in the State (MDCH, 2009). With the alarming data related to this public health problem, the need for suicide prevention, intervention, and post-vention is essential to improve awareness, reduce stigmas associated with mental health disorders, address barriers related to treatment, and create pathways for identifying and responding to suicide. This course will pay special attention to suicide intervention. This course adheres to requirements outlined by the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), a suicide first aid model used worldwide. We will present promising approaches to identify and engage with a person-at-risk utilizing the ASIST-11 model. This specific intervention utilizes techniques found in Motivational Interviewing. The following CSWE Core Competencies will be addressed, as numbered by CSWE: 1) Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly, 2) Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice, 3) Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments, 6) Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research, 7) Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, and 10) Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.