This training is developed for behavioral health professionals who are required to meet licensure and re-licensure continuing education hours in suicide assessment, referral, intervention and management skills.

Objectives:

• Develop skills to ask clients about suicide
• Assess for suicide using evidence-based tools
• Collaborative with clients in the development of a safety and treatment plan

Presenter:

Katie Ellison, MA

Katie Ellison, MA, MS, NCC is the research project director for the Safer Homes Collaborative with Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her research focuses on lethal means reduction strategies, such as reducing easy access to firearms in the home as a means of preventing firearm suicide. She has worked in community and school suicide prevention for over thirteen years, earning recognition as a specialist and consultant in community, state and school suicide prevention, intervention and postvention best-practices. Ms. Ellison spent the first ten years of her career working in adult and juvenile corrections before transitioning to working in K-12 public education. In addition to having a bachelor’s degree in Family and Human Development, a master’s degree in Psychology, and a master’s degree in School Counseling, Ms. Ellison struggled with mental health challenges in adolescence and young adulthood, survived a nearly lethal suicide attempt in her twenties, and has journeyed with her child who struggled with mental health challenges in childhood.