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PTSD: National Center for PTSD

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Lethal Means Safety Counseling: Challenges and Considerations for Patients with PTSD

 

Continuing Education

This section brings together free in-depth Continuing Education resources for the Professional community concerned with trauma.

Lethal Means Safety Counseling: Challenges and Considerations for Patients with PTSD

  • Date Created: 09/ 6/2023
  • Time to Complete: 1 hour
  • Credits: ANCC, APA, ASWB, ACCME, NBCC, Other Orgs
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Course Series: PTSD 101, PTSD Consultation Lecture Series

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Lethal Means Safety Counseling: Challenges and Considerations for Patients with PTSD Author(s):

Joseph Simonetti, MD

Ian H. Stanley, PhD

Description

Access to firearms is an important and well recognized risk factor for suicide. Clinical guidelines for suicide prevention include recommendations for lethal means safety. Best practices for clinicians working with at-risk individuals include encouraging them to limit access to firearms and other lethal methods of suicide during risk periods.

This course reviews how individuals with PTSD experience specific symptoms that may increase their likelihood of firearm access and non-secure firearm storage practices, placing them at higher risk for suicide. PTSD-related symptoms may also hinder the efficacy of clinical interventions aimed at promoting firearm risk reduction. The presenters discuss key considerations for clinician on how to counsel Veterans with PTSD regarding firearms.

Goals and Objectives

  • Recognize the relationship between firearm access and suicide risk
  • Understand evidence-informed lethal means safety recommendations for individuals at risk of suicide
  • Understand key features of PTSD and how they may impact counseling and update of firearm-related recommendations

PTSD Information Voice Mail: (802) 296-6300
Email: ncptsd@va.gov
Also see: VA Mental Health

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