Overview

Series: Responding effectively to suicidality when working online with clients

Managing suicide risk in psychologists’ work with clients is an ongoing professional and ethical concern. The worry that they might not have done enough is common and can stay with the psychologist long after the client has left the counselling room. As we face a changing landscape in working with clients with a rapid move towards telehealth the worry about suicide risk is also increasing for psychologists.

The series is designed to assist psychologists in building their awareness and confidence in managing this challenging situation and will begin with the transition to working online and then follow up with more specific current topics.

This series consist of four webinars:

1. Preparing to manage client suicidality in online sessions,

2. Supporting parents of suicidal teenagers in the pandemic, 

3. Nuts and bolts of safety planning to respond to distress and suicidality, and 

4. Suicide prevention in school settings when learning happens at home.

2. Supporting parents of suicidal teenagers in the pandemic

This is the second webinar in the series. A recently released book titled “Keeping our kids alive, parenting a suicidal young person” will be used as the basis for this session with a focus on what this might mean for parents and psychologists during the pandemic.

Level of Learning

Intermediate. This activity is targeted to those who have some previous learning on the topic.

Duration of access

Access to this activity is 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved 

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality.

Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Activity details

• On-demand webinar recording

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• identify key factors related to young people’s suicidality,

• explore ways that psychologists can support parents of suicidal young people, and

• consider factors which may be relevant to young people’s suicidality and parental responses during a pandemic.

Presenter(s)

Dr Lyn O'Grady MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Lyn is a Community Psychologist with a particular interest in the mental health of children, young people and families as well as suicidology. She has previously worked with parents in the community sector, as a school psychologist and as a manager of the KidsMatter Project for the Australian Psychological Society. She currently works in private practice with a broad range of clients, but particularly children, young people and families. She also works part time with the College of Professional Psychology managing their 5 + 1 intern training program. She is a registered supervisor of psychology interns and also regularly conducts training and workshops on topics relating to suicide prevention, child and adolescent mental health and supporting school staff. She is also the author of a book for parents of teenagers who are suicidal titled “Keeping our Kids Alive, Parenting a Suicidal Young Person”.