Closing Remarks: 2022 Suicide-Focused Assessment and Treatment Course

Available with English captions and subtitles in Spanish.

Co-Directors Douglas G. Jacobs, MD, and Alan F. Schatzberg, MD, wrap up the 2022 course, Suicide-Focused Assessment and Treatment: An Update for Professionals.

Remarks From Dr. Douglas Jacobs

“I want to first start by thanking all of our speakers for the time, effort, and thoughtfulness they put into their talks.”

“One of the common themes we ended up with it is the whole concept of safety planning. Another topic that came up was the importance of screening for suicide risk, and how conducting a detailed suicide inquiry can be really lifesaving.”

“There are statistics that can be troubling. As Matt Nock said, we’re where we were 100 years ago [in terms of suicide risk], and we have to keep at it. Clearly, the response of all of you indicates that we’re willing to do that. As someone who has worked in this field for 50 years, we just have to be patient, but to try to expand our knowledge.”

“We also have to be aware of the evidence-based treatments, such as DBT and what Dr. Baldessarini shared about lithium, clozapine, and where the limitations are with our some of our other pharmaceuticals.”

Remarks From Dr. Alan Schatzberg

“There has been quite a dramatic change in the level of sophistication in terms of research and suicide over the last decade.”

“We’re seeing novel approaches to look at suicide in very well-organized, well-controlled ways. We are using new technologies for assessments and interventions.”

“I think the future is actually bright in terms of coming up with novel methods of assessment and intervention. I appreciate Doug suggesting we have a cross-national collaboration between Stanford and McLean, where both institutions have an interest in suicide research, preventing suicide, and treating people who have suicidal ideation and behavior.”

“We do want to again thank the McLean folks for really providing the organizational support for Zoom and assessment credits.”

“Any suggestions from participants in terms of criticism, topics, or structure of the programs would be most appreciated, and we look forward to next year.”

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About Douglas G. Jacobs

Dr. Douglas Jacobs is a recognized expert in suicide assessment and intervention. In the early 1990s, he initiated the concept of large-scale screening for mental health disorders, with the founding of National Depression Screening Day.

Dr. Jacobs was chairman of the workgroup that published the American Psychiatric Association’s Practice Guidelines for the Assessment and Treatment of Patients With Suicidal Behaviors.

About Alan F. Schatzberg

Dr. Alan Schatzberg is the Kenneth T. Norris, Jr., Professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. He directs the Stanford Mood Disorders Center and has been an active investigator in the biology and psychopharmacology of depressive disorders.

Dr. Schatzberg is the author of over 700 publications and abstracts and has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.