Working with Suicidality and Self-Harm in Youth:
Practical Intervention Strategies and Treatment

Funding Organisation
   Normal Fee: $580. Funding details available at the Funding page.
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​‘I thought I have provided all things for my family – financial, emotional … everything. Yet, my daughter is cutting herself. What have I done wrong? What else could I have done?’ – a father’s anguish.  

Course Overview

Reports of youth suicide and self-harm are growing at an alarming rate. This phenomenon seems to be widespread across the entire spectrum of young people, irrespective of their socio-economic status, level of education, and family background.
 
This workshop is designed for mental health professionals and educators who work with young people in a range of community, educational, private, public, inpatient, and outpatient settings. Participants will learn effective intervention strategies and techniques to help at-risk young people.
 
The practical workshop is offered in a multi-modal format including immersive and experiential training via role-play, case studies, peer activities, and observation in addition to traditional teaching strategies.
 
Whilst the ‘Working with Suicidality and Self-Harm in Youth: Understanding Risk Assessment, Prevention Strategies and Case Management’ workshop helps participants formulate strategies, policies and prevention programme to handle suicide and self-harm cases, this workshop teaches specific intervention techniques and skills that are effective in working with young people who have medium to high risk of suicide and/or self-harming behaviors.
 

About the Workshop Facilitator
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Ms Leeran Gold is an Australian-registered psychologist who specializes in working with high-risk and high-need youth and adults in her clinical and forensic practice. She conducts comprehensive suicide and self-harm risk assessments and guides families, educators, and other mental health professionals on risk management and reduction in the home and school environment. 

Leeran is a well-regarded speaker who has conducted workshops for the Ministry of Education, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Psychological Society, Singapore Psychological Therapists Group, and EAP Services. She has been invited to present at multiple international conferences in 2018, including the International School Counselors Association Annual Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Leeran has previously held adjunct teaching positions at Bond University, and was the first Australian to be selected as International Visiting Researcher for the Ministry of Home Affairs Behavioral Sciences Center in Singapore. She is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), the Asia-Pacific Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (APATAP), and the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services (IAFMHS). 


Target Audience

This workshop is suitable for those who possess basic counselling skills, a relevant degree in psychology/counselling/social work, and understanding of adolescent development.
  • Social Workers, Counsellors and Psychologists working in VWOs
  • Medical Social Workers working in hospitals and medical institutions
  • School Counsellors
  • Psychologists and Counsellors in private practice.

Duration
1 day (9 am - 5 pm).

Workshop Topics:

Part A: Understanding At-Risk Youth
  • Youth suicide and self-harm, causes and risk factors: a cross-disciplinary and cross-theoretical perspective:
    • Systemic approach
    • Cognitive-behavioural approach
    • Development theory approach, etc.
  • Comprehensive clinical case formulation
    • Understanding that self-destructive behaviours are symptoms of a larger problem
    • Using case formulation to guide treatment planning
Activity: Case activities; role-play
 
Part B: Strategies to Engage At-Risk Youth
  • Building and managing a therapeutic alliance with distressed youth
    • Aligning with the young person, etc.
  • Collaborative treatment planning with the adolescent and young adult
  • Working with challenging presentations:
    • Resistance
    • Denial
    • Opposition
    • Clusters
Activity: Role-play, skill practice
 
Part C: Practical Intervention Skills
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Cognitive restructuring
  • Emotion regulation
  • Distress tolerance
  • Problem-solving
Activity: Skill practice
 
Part D: Case Management
  • Legal and ethical issues related to suicide and self-harm
  • Working with parents and other stakeholders
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Click here for funding details. Terms and Conditions apply.