This course explores suicide prevention strategies to support older adults, their caregivers, and professionals who support them. This course will take approximately one hour to complete.
- A self-paced online training module (60 minutes)
- Module – LEARN Saves Lives: Suicide Prevention for Older Adults
- Free and open to everyone
- Appropriate for older adults, caregivers, and professionals who work with them
LEARN SPECIFIC SKILLS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION IN OLDER ADULTS:
- Learn about unique challenges and risk factors older adults face.
- Explore the public health issue of suicide and why people may consider dying by suicide.
- Understand the importance of conversations about wellness and suicidality in reducing stigma and increasing connection.
- Understand thoughtful storage access to high-risk lethal means.
- Identify available resources and recommend appropriate resources for a wide variety of scenarios.
Take and share this free suicide prevention training today:
If you have trouble registering, please email ffront@uw.edu
Suicide among Older Adults is a Crisis
Suicide ranks as a leading cause of death in Washington state and the United States. Of all age groups, adults who are 75 and older have the highest rates of suicide. Furthermore, the majority of both caregivers and care recipients in the United States are over 50 years old. Older adults are at greater risk of social isolation, bereavement, and chronic health conditions, which may contribute to suicide. To address this problem, Forefront Suicide Prevention has collaborated with gerontology professionals in the Puget Sound to produce a suicide prevention training that will improve the safety and wellbeing of older adults.
References
- Suicide Data and Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nov 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html
- American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Caregiving in the U.S. 2020. Published May 2020. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2020/05/full-report-caregiving-in-the-united-states.doi.10.26419-2Fppi.00103.001.pdf
- Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published August 14, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm?s_cid=mm6932a1_w
- Solimando L, Fasulo M, Cavallero S, Veronese N, Smith L, Vernuccio L, Bolzetta F, Dominguez LJ, Barbagallo M. Suicide risk in caregivers of people with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022;34(10):2255-2260. doi: 10.1007/s40520-022-02160-6
- Van Orden K, Conwell Y. Suicides in late life. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2011 Jun;13(3):234-41. doi: 10.1007/s11920-011-0193-3. PMID: 21369952; PMCID: PMC3085020.