Aspiring to a Zero Suicide Mindset

In this course, Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas, Psy.D., psychologist, professional speaker, and impact entrepreneur, poses the question of what we must do collectively in order to achieve a zero suicide mindset. Tapping into common recalcitrance to discuss suicide, Spencer-Thomas asks practitioners to reflect on their own relationship with suicide while shedding light on how therapists can ask the suicide question to clients – and understand the warning signs which indicate that the client has been considering suicide. Crisis response planning is essential, as is creating a safety net of support people; these are best done collaboratively with the client. Spencer-Thomas goes over both of those aspects and also delineates what therapists can train clients to do if they are “on fire” with the idea of suicide (that is: having surges of suicide intensity). Spencer-Thomas asks for a 30-day commitment to taking an action step.