Overview

Understanding and responding effectively to suicidality is a common concern for psychologists.

It has professional, ethical and legal implications as well as often triggering an emotional response in psychologists. The fear of not doing enough along with the recognition that prediction of suicide risk is challenging for even the most experienced mental health practitioners adds to the stress associated with this work. However, all psychologists are now aware of the need to be ready and prepared to respond appropriately to clients who present with any aspect of suicidality and those supporting them. 

This series of webinars will draw upon current approaches and evidence to assist psychologists in building their awareness and self-confidence in managing these challenging situations:

Webinar 1: Understanding suicidality

Helping clients who experience suicidality requires psychologists to be comfortable with discussing suicide and the circumstances in which suicidality occurs.

Webinar 2: Beyond safety planning in response to distress and suicidality

Safety planning continues to be seen as best practice for psychologists working with people who have suicidal thoughts or behaviours, but often clients need more proactive responses as well.

Webinar 3: Working with parents and schools in relation to suicidality in children and young people

Children and young people can present with suicidality and require an approach which takes this seriously while working to understand underlying factors.

Webinar 4: Supporting people bereaved by suicide

Suicide bereavement can be more complex than other bereavement and people can experience difficulty talking about their grief.

Level of Learning

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

Duration of access

Access to the recordings and presenter slides is for 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 on-demand series, participants should be able to: 

• explore contemporary models and latest research to better understand suicidality,

• identify key factors in effectively discussing suicidality with clients,

• outline ways to respond to suicidality,

• outline the key areas included in a safety plan and the benefits for people in distress,

• describe steps to engaging collaboratively with the client to increase the effectiveness of the safety plan and to build further supports through cognitive behaviour therapy strategies,

• identify risk and protective factors in relation to children and young people’s suicidality,

• outline approaches to supporting the child and young person, including increasing emotional literacy and emotional regulation,

• describe ways to effectively engage parents and carers,

• describe the key features of suicide bereavement and approaches for supporting a person bereaved by suicide, and

• identify resources and further supports.

Presenter(s)

Dr Lyn O'Grady MAPS

About the presenter(s)

Dr Lyn O’Grady is a Community Psychologist with a particular interest in child and adolescent mental health.
In a career spanning almost thirty years, she has a wide range of experiences across a number of sectors. She has worked as a school psychologist, with parents in community-based organisations and managed the KidsMatter project for the Australian Psychological Society. She currently works in private practice as well as with the College of Professional Psychology.
In 2017 she completed a Master of Suicidology and has been writing, consulting and training in this area since then. She published her first book for parents titled “Keeping our Kids Alive, Parenting a suicidal young person” in 2020. Lyn is also an AHPRA-approved supervisor.