Overview

The latest international research shows that Autistic People are significantly more likely to think about and attempt suicide, and Autistic people are up to seven times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

This online/on-demand course aims to up-skill practicing mental health professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide appropriate clinical care, including risk assessment and safety planning for Autistic tweens, adolescents & adults.

Over 1000 participants from across the Asia-Pacific region have now completed this online course which is based on the latest international research, policy and practice developments in suicidality, which have been co-designed with researchers, professionals and Autistic people.

Dr Ratcliffe utilises her signature style of bringing the latest evidence-based practice to life with real-life clinical and case examples, combined with a range of reflection and interactive activities to keep the learner interested and engaged.

This is not a recorded webinar - the course had been specifically designed, filmed and edited for online learning! Participation and interactivity is included, combined with new clinical tools for risk assessment and safety planning.

Course Overview

Mental Health Professionals will increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in suicide, self-harm and safety planning for Autistic Tweens, Adolescents & Adults.

Online/on-demand course available

• Introduction to Suicide & Self-harm in Autistic Tweens, Adolescents & Adults
• Risk & Protective Factors for Self-harm & Suicide in Autistic Tweens, Adolescents & Adults
• How to Conduct a Suicide Risk Assessment for Autistic Tweens, Adolescents & Adults (including new tool to measure suicidal behaviour)
• How to do Safety Planning with Autistic Tweens, Adolescents & Adults (including new safety planning template(s))
• Clinical Case Studies - Bringing it all together (including new tool to support Autistic people when triggered/ in crisis)
• Live/recorded role-play of a risk assessment
• Q & A with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe
• 8 hours CPD and certificate of participation on completion

Included:

✔ Access to Suicide Behaviour Questionnaire - Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC)

• Developed by Dr Sarah Cassidy (Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham, UK) & colleagues and shared with Dr Cassidy's permission in this training The Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire – Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC)© is a 5 item evidence-based self-report measure (Cassidy, Bradley, Cogger-Ward & Rodgers, 2021) designed to identify suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviours in autistic adults without co-occurring intellectual disability.

✔Mental Health Autism: Safety Plan Template

• Safety planning is an evidence-based technique (Stanley & Brown, 2012) that provides a step by step plan in the event of a suicidal crisis and has been identified by Autistic People as potentially useful.
• A worked Clinical Example is provided using the evidence-based MH Autism Safety Plan Template.

✔Interactivity!

• This is NOT a recorded webinar. This online course had been professional filmed and edited and designed for online learning. Participation in discussion and personal reflection and interactivity keeps the learner interested and engaged.

✔Certificate of participation on completion

For more information and to register for this online/on-demand course:

Suicide, Self-harm and Safety Planning for Autistic People (theemotionsclinic.com.au)

Workshop Prerequisites

• Please note: Although not essential, it is highly recommended that participants complete 'Foundations in Autism for Mental Health Professionals - with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe (online, on demand course) prior to completion of this more advanced workshop. More info available here: Foundations in Autism for Mental Health Professionals (theemotionsclinic.com.au)

BUNDLE AND SAVE

• Participants can BUNDLE and Save $89 when register for both (1) Foundations in Autism + (2) Suicide, Self-Harm and Safety Planning in Autism using this link: Foundations in Autism + Suicide Self Harm and Safety Planning in Autism (online on-demand with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe) (theemotionsclinic.com.au)

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop knowledge, skills and confidence in suicide, self-harm and safety planning for Autistic Adolescents and Adults
2. Develop knowledge, skills and confidence in understanding risk and protective factors in suicide for for Autistic Adolescents and Adults
3. Develop knowledge, skills and confidence in risk assessment for Autistic Adolescents and Adults
4. Develop knowledge, skills and confidence in safety planning for Autistic Adolescents and Adults
5. Develop knowledge, skills and confidence in application to 'real life cases'

Presenter(s)

Dr Belinda Ratcliffe

About the presenter(s)

Dr. Belinda Ratcliffe, lead author of the award-winning Westmead Feelings Program 1 for Autistic Children and Mild Intellectual Disability is a highly qualified Principal Clinical Psychologist and Researcher with a PhD in Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. Belinda has received multiple prizes in recognition of her work. Dr. Ratcliffe has been a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Western Sydney University from 2017-2020. She is currently CEO and Director of Training and Clinical Services at 'The Emotions Clinic Australia', dedicated to making a lasting impact in Autism, Intellectual Disability and Mental Health. Dr Ratcliffe provides training, clinical supervision and consultancy across Australia to a range of Health, Disability and Education Government, Non-government and Private agencies, including the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Mater Hospital in Brisbane and NSW Department of Education and Communities.

Website/s

https://courses.theemotionsclinic.com.au/courses/Suicide-self-harm-safety-planning-for-autistic-adolescents-adults-for-mental-health-professionals-online-self-paced-course