Presenter(s): Ellyson Stout, MS, US Director of Community Suicide Prevention, Education Development Center (EDC) 

Target Audience: This activity is designed for mental health and addiction treatment professionals, integrated care providers, and medical staff. This activity is accredited for nurses, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, pharmacists, interprofessional teams, and other health professionals. 

Webinar Description: Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with provisional estimates of over 47,000 deaths in 2021. Nonetheless, the evidence shows suicide can be prevented through comprehensive healthcare and community-based strategies, as outlined in the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Substance misuse is a risk factor for suicide, and people who use opioids are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This webinar will provide an overview of risk and protective factors associated with suicidality and opioid use disorder (OUD), and will outline effective organizational and clinical prevention and intervention strategies for individuals experiencing OUD. 

Educational Objectives:

• Describe the broad context of suicide in the U.S. and what we know about suicide prevention.
• Examine the relationship between suicidality and opioid use disorder (OUD) from a public health standpoint.
• Leverage clinical intervention and prevention strategies and resources to address suicidality and OUD.

Support for the Program:
Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 6H79TI081968 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.