1ALERT: Suicide Prevention for Washington Healthcare Professionals 6-Hour Training

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify acute and chronic risk factors for suicide across diverse patient populations.

2. Assess patient suicide risk utilizing evidence-based screening tools and structured interviews to improve Patient Care.

3. Analyze information obtained during suicide risk screenings to inform healthcare decisions.

4. Formulate individualized safety plans that reduce access to lethal means.

5. Use culturally sensitive communication strategies to respect the diverse backgrounds of patients.

6. Select effective referral resources to ensure continuity of care through patient transitions.

This course is intended for Washington-licensed professionals whose scope includes suicide risk screening, assessment, treatment planning, referral, documentation, crisis response, patient safety interventions, or care coordination. Learners should apply treatment, management, prescribing, referral, documentation, and lethal-means safety strategies only within their professional license, role, supervision requirements, and institutional policies; Washington’s suicide prevention training requirement does not expand or limit any profession’s scope of practice (Washington Revised Code § 43.70.442; Washington Administrative Code § 246-12-630).

Educational needs:

Suicide remains a major public health concern in the United States. More than 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023, which means one death occurred about every 11 minutes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025). Washington-specific and veteran-specific patterns also support the need for role-sensitive suicide prevention training, especially when patients have access to lethal means, recent losses, substance use, chronic pain, social isolation, or barriers to behavioral health care (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs [VA], 2025; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense [VA & DoD], 2024).

State requirement:

This course is designed to address Washington’s 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment, and management training content areas for applicable healthcare professionals. Washington requires covered professionals to complete suicide prevention training that meets the applicable hour and content requirements, and professionals required to complete the training must select an approved course from the Washington Model List when applicable (Washington State Department of Health, 2025; Washington Revised Code § 43.70.442; Washington Administrative Code § 246-12-630). Final compliance for Washington credit depends on the course being approved and current on the Washington Model List for the intended professional audience.