Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention Interprofessional

The professional diversity of participants is one of the greatest strengths of the programs offered by the Nova Scotia Health Learning Institute for Health Care Providers. The Suicide Risk Assessment and Intervention Interprofessional Program (SRAI) is a perfect illustration of this vitality in action. Learners such as Registered Nurses, Occupational Therapists, and Social Workers from acute, crisis, and rehabilitation settings bring a broad range of experience to the program.

The performance based SRAI Interprofessional Program prepares health care clinicians to perform suicide risk assessments and interventions in their clinical setting with individuals who are at risk.

The program is designed to meet learning needs of:

• Health care clinicians who frequently interact with individuals at risk but lack this knowledge and skill.
• Health care clinicians with experience and who already work in the mental health field.

The competencies for the SRAI Interprofessional program are arranged under four general competency areas:

• Assessment — you provide competent, safe assessment that is responsive to the rapidly changing situations of individuals at potential risk of suicide.
• Intervention — you provide competent, safe interventions that are responsive to the rapidly changing situation of individuals at potential risk of suicide.
• Critical Thinking — you analyze, synthesize, and evaluate knowledge for the practice of suicide risk assessment.
• Professionalism — you follow ethical, legal, and professional standards within your practice.

This interprofessional program is a three-month, part-time, guided learning experience requiring approximately 12 hours of study per week, for a total of 168 hours of study time. It has been designed with four comprehensive units describing the concepts of risk, coping, crisis, and chronicity, as they relate to suicide risk assessment and intervention. The program also:

• Uses a concept-based approach
• Is competency-based
• Uses a web-based format that includes case studies, required readings, videos, online quizzes, activities, and discussion boards.
• Includes two learning lab experiences that allow opportunity for practice and for the learner to have their skills assessed using competency checklists validated by expert practitioners
• Includes a final skills and performance assessment component which is done in the third lab with actors during an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE).

At the completion of this program clinicians will be able to carry out a suicide risk assessment and provide safe and effective interventions for individuals at risk.

Clinicians with prior experience, knowledge, and skills may qualify for partial credit towards course requirements.

Part-time study:

August 24, 2022 - November 29, 2022;  Registration deadline June 15, 2022

Dates are subject to change, if you miss the deadline date please contact the program faculty.

• 12 hours of independent study per week, on average
• 3 full days of in person learning labs
• 3 live virtual classes (1.5 hours each)
• 1 live virutal simulation with an actor (1 hour)

Contact Information:

Program Costs