Deconstructing the Depression-Suicide Connection

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and suicidality are serious public health concerns in the United States and abroad. This continuing education workshop for therapists and counselors will explore how to diagnose and treat depression, how to recognize and treat suicidality, and ways that mental health clinicians can process their countertransference regarding these conditions.

In this 2-hour continuing education webinar, Karen Landmann, LCSW will examine one or more composite case studies in detail, abstracting clinically-salient information and actionable details. Karen will explain how to diagnose MDD and how to recognize when suicidal ideation, planning, developing means, and having intent are present in therapy clients. She will also educate participants on how to assess the extent and the lethality of suicidal ideation using a "road map"/"timeline" framework.

In this course, Karen will also focus on racial, cultural, socioeconomic, disability-related, and other factors that may impact MDD and suicidality. In addition, she will review methods to evaluate clients' longstanding psychological issues and methods of coping (or lack thereof).

Additionally, Karen will address the clinician's own process while dealing with these difficult clinical issues. Most clinicians feel worry, fear, anxiety, stress, or other related emotions while helping majorly depressed and/or suicidal clients. However, less acceptable feelings such as anger and frustration often go unnoticed. Karen will seek to recognize and validate all possible feelings that may arise in clinicians, and she will provide clear tools for managing this parallel process.

This introductory continuing education webinar is designed to help mental health professionals:

1. List the diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.
2. Recognize and determine the extent of a client's suicidal ideation, planning, means, and intent.
3. Identify and describe the client's depressed and/or suicidal condition within a framework of their upbringing and other psychological issues.
4. Relate and explain Major Depressive Disorder to cultural influences and factors.
5. List strategies to cope more effectively with countertransference related to serving clients with Major Depressive Disorder and/or suicidality.

Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: This program presents an overview of established methods of diagnosis as set out by the American Psychiatric Association. It also utilizes researched and published methods of treatment. It is consistent with the ethics code of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Statements about the provision of services and addressing clinician countertransference are according to the presenter's understanding of medical necessity, clinical documentation standards, and ethical and legal obligations at the time of the program. This program surveys methods to apply the material of instruction In a clinically responsible manner, although the presenter may not know how to apply all principles discussed for every person in every situation. A body of literature researched by the presenter suggests that the methods are effective and safe. As always, however, an incorrect application of psychotherapeutic interventions with mentally vulnerable individuals can lead to adverse outcomes.

The PowerPoint presentation may include images related to suicidality that some find triggering. Participants who may be triggered by such images can participate via audio only if they prefer by dialing into the WebEx teleconference line. 

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: The presenter has no known conflict of interest in conducting this seminar at this time.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact GoodTherapy here. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, you can contact your local law enforcement agency (911 in the United States) or contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2022 – 3/30/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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