What is It?
Suicide Prevention Practices for Mental Health Providers and Organizations is a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention for organizations that deliver mental health services. It includes three key, evidence-informed components:
Universal Suicide Screening
A structured process to routinely assess suicide risk in all clients, regardless of presenting concerns.
- Uses validated tools (e.g., PHQ-9, Columbia Protocol)
- Can be delivered at intake and periodically during care
- Promotes early identification of suicide risk before a crisis occurs
Suicide Management Interventions
For individuals who screen positive for suicide risk, or have other proximal suicide risk factors, structured interventions help them stay safe and engaged in care:
- Crisis Response Planning (CRP): A brief, collaborative plan identifying warning signs, coping strategies, and sources of support. Appropriate across settings and providers.
- Safety Planning: A detailed, clinician-led tool (e.g., Stanley-Brown model) that includes steps for managing suicidal thoughts and reducing access to lethal means.
Suicide Treatment Interventions
Specialized psychotherapies that directly target suicidal thoughts and behaviors, beyond general mental health treatment.
Examples include:
- Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (BCBT-SP)
- Cognitive Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CT-SP)
These treatments are typically short-term and focus on improving emotion regulation, reducing hopelessness, and building practical coping skills to reduce suicide risk.
Who is It For?
This framework is designed for mental health organizations and providers that offer services to populations at risk for suicide, including:
- Community mental health centers
- VA or veteran-serving clinics
- Outpatient behavioral health programs
- Crisis services and intensive outpatient programs
It is appropriate for providers working with adults, adolescents, and special populations such as veterans, individuals with trauma histories, and those with co-occurring disorders.
What is the Intended Outcome and Impact?
For the organization:
- Improved ability to identify and respond to suicide risk across all clients
- Structured, evidence-informed care pathways for clients at varying levels of risk
- Increased staff confidence and consistency in managing suicidal clients
- Better alignment with accreditation standards and funding priorities related to suicide prevention
For the veteran:
- Earlier identification and support, even when suicide is not the presenting concern
- Personalized safety strategies that help reduce distress and improve coping
- Access to effective, targeted treatment that directly reduces suicidal ideation and behavior
- Greater continuity of care and reduced risk of escalation or crisis
How Technical Assistance Can Help with Integration:
The UT Health San Antonio Technical Assistance Team is here to help your organization determine which practices best fit your setting, providers, and clients — and how to get started.
We can support you with:
- Selecting the right treatment for your team and population
- Identifying training opportunities for clinicians
- Planning for sustainable implementation
- Ongoing coaching, resources, and outcome support
Schedule a conversation with our Technical Assistance Team to explore what works for your agency.
Resources
- BCBT Training Information
| Who | Team members or volunteers that will deliver the intervention or benefit from learning the intervention |
| What | Live, virtual 5-hour workshop |
| When | See Scheduled Training Dates |
| Where | BCBT Training Page |
- CRP Training Information
| Who | Team members or volunteers that will deliver the intervention or benefit from learning the intervention |
| What | Live, virtual 5-hour workshop |
| When | Monthly |
| Where | Face the Fight Training and Resource Center |