This is a private event by invitation only.

Description

This four-hour webinar connects the neuroscience of severe distress and suicidal thinking with practical suicide prevention strategies for professionals serving older adults and adults with disabilities. Participants will explore how stress can affect emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and decision-making, while learning how neuroplasticity provides a framework for understanding recovery and building hope. Designed for Nevada Aging and Disability Services staff, the training emphasizes recognizing warning signs, asking directly about suicide, responding with compassion, and connecting individuals with appropriate care. Case scenarios will address challenges encountered during telephone contacts and home visits, including chronic pain, isolation, loss, and communication or cognitive barriers. Participants will practice choosing responses that support immediate safety, strengthen connection, and facilitate follow-up within their professional roles and agency procedures.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this presentation, participants will:

• Explain how severe stress can affect emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and decision-making, and describe how neuroplasticity informs an understanding of recovery.

• Identify at least three suicide warning signs and three risk or protective factors relevant to older adults and adults with disabilities.

• Demonstrate direct, compassionate communication about suicidal thoughts, adapting their approach for telephone contacts, home visits, and individual communication needs.

• Apply a practical response framework to case scenarios, including immediate safety actions, connection to crisis or clinical services, and escalation according to agency procedures.

• Describe how collaborative safety planning, reducing access to lethal means, supportive relationships, and follow-up contribute to suicide prevention within the participant’s professional role.

Presented by:

Alex Kohl, PhD, LPC

Continuing Education Units:

4 CEUs

Certification Board Information

This training is approved for continuing education units by the boards listed here. Additional specifications can be found below.

NAADAC (The Association for Addiction Professionals)

This course has been approved by CASAT, School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for the below # of CEUs. NAADAC Provider #98165. CASAT is responsible for all aspects of its programming.

CEUs:

Skills Groups

This course applies to the following Client Skill Groups as defined by NAADAC:

• Clinical Intake and Screening

• Clinical Assessment

• Treatment Plan

• Counseling Services

• Documentation

• Case Management

• Discharge and Continuing Care

• Legal, Ethical, and Professional Development

• Pharmacology and Physiology

NBCC (National Board for Certified Counselors)

CASAT has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6492. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CASAT is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. (Continuing education hours and CEU's are synonymous for purposes of issuing CEU's from CASAT Learning)

Qualifies for NBCC Credit: Yes

NCB (Nevada Certification Board)

This course is approved by the Nevada Certification Board for the following professional certifications:

• Certified Community Health Workers (CHW)

• Peer Recovery and Support Specialist Certification and PRSS Supervisors (PRSS(-S))

• Family Peer Support Specialist and FPSS Supervisors (FPSS(-S))

Presentation materials are not for reproduction or distribution without specific written authorization. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of CASAT.

Details