Course Summary

Expiration Date: 05/27/2029

The use of appropriate language when talking about suicide is important in clinical and therapy practice, especially in the context of social media. Current guidelines, such as those of the American Psychiatric Association, highlight the need for mental health professionals to lead these conversations in a safe and effective approach. Avoiding stigmatizing terms, focusing on prevention and hope, and providing helpful resources are critical skills when talking about suicide with patients. Healthcare professionals are required to improve their knowledge of suicide terminology and the impact of social media.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Suicide Statistics
  • Impact of Social Media
    • Helpful Information and Linking Resources
    • Key Takeaway Points

Author

Susan Depasquale, MA, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Susan DePasquale is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Her current practice is with families, youth and adults who have mental illnesses in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including telepsychiatry for Montana, Washington and Wisconsin communities. She completed her Masters of Art in Political Science at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Masters of Science in Nursing at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington with a focus in neurogastroenterology and the Post-Masters of Science in Nursing at the Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana with a focus in psychiatry. She has worked with small and rural healthcare teams in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada, and in teaching and research hospitals such as Providence Health and Virginia Mason Medical Center Digestive and Liver Disease Departments in Seattle. Since 2012, she has been actively involved in online continuing education program development for nurses and health teams.