Suicide and drug overdose deaths in the United States, regardless of age or race, have increased since 2001 and the rate of drug overdose death surpassed that of suicide in 2015 (CDC WISQARS, 2018). There are shared risk factors for suicide and substance abuse, including depression, trauma history, hopelessness, and impulsivity (SAMHSA, 2015). Research indicates that individuals who struggle with substance abuse disorders can also be at increased risk for suicide. For example, in one study, adults who abused opioids at least weekly were more likely to engage in suicide planning and attempts (Ashrafioun, Bishop, Conner, & Pigeon, 2017). Individuals who struggle with substance misuse and abuse are at higher risk for suicide, health care providers undoubtedly encounter these challenging and complex patients. Systems that have adopted a Zero Suicide framework are well suited to embed best practices and training that directly targets the impact of substance abuse on suicide. 

This webinar will highlight innovative ways that health and behavioral health care organizations are changing organizational practices and providing improved care for patients with substance abuse disorders who are at heightened risk for overdose and suicide. By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to (1) identify ways to improve staff attitudes and confidence towards working with patients at risk for suicide and overdose deaths, (2) share unique patient engagement and suicide care management plan considerations for this population, and (3) describe the importance of a patient-centered perspective to treating suicide risk and overdose risk concurrently. 

To request closed captioning for this webinar, please email Chelsea Pepi (cpepi@edc.org) by 4:00pm EDT on Monday July 2, 2018.

Rick Strait, MS, LPC, CRDAC, CCDP, CGDC is a licensed professional counselor and certified substance abuse counselor at Community Counseling Center of Missouri. He is also a suicide attempt survivor. Mr. Strait has worked with the co-occurring population for eighteen years. He is a board member of the Missouri American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Eastern Chapter and serves as the education chair and as an advocacy ambassador. He has also helped organize multiple suicide awareness conferences in Missouri. Mr. Strait’s unique ability to bridge his clinical knowledge with his lived experience enables him to better serve the consumers and the programs he works with.

Thomas McCarry, LMHC is the Director of Substance Abuse Prevention at The Institute for Family Health. He is responsible for the development and implementation of integrated substance abuse prevention and treatment services. Mr. McCarry leads initiatives that utilize Zero Suicide to reduce overdose deaths – a Zero Overdose approach. He oversaw the creation and implementation of Overdose Prevention Safety Plans, workflows to enhance engagement during transitions in care, workforce surveys and training, as well as coordinating availability of free naloxone kits across all Institute sites. Mr. McCarry received his Master Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University.

Barbara Gay, MA is the executive director of the Area Substance Abuse Council, Inc. (ASAC); a comprehensive substance abuse treatment and prevention nonprofit organization. She has used her personal experiences to guide programs to improve resources and supports, and to offer her voice as a suicide attempt survivor to advance the field of suicide prevention. Ms. Gay is currently a member of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline Consumer Survivor Committee, which is funded by the SAMHSA. She has her MA in health education from the University of Northern Iowa and her undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology from St. Ambrose University, and she is a certified prevention specialist.