CALM for Pediatric Providers: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means to Prevent Youth Suicide

Description

​Because there is no standard or consistent education for pediatricians and other physicians, in training or in practice, on how to counsel about firearm safety, a resource is needed to provide the capacity and knowledge of appropriate ways to educate families about firearm safety taking into account their culture, knowledge, beliefs, and experiences. It is apparent that there is a critical need for new, innovative approaches to prevent firearm injuries and deaths that occur every day across communities - large and small, rural and urban, wealthy and under-resourced. Suicide and suicidal behavior among youth and young adults is a major public health crisis. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people 10-24 years of age in the United States (US). This training will improve the learner’s ability to counsel patient families effectively on how to store their firearms safely and protect their family from preventable firearm injuries specifically around suicide. 

Learning Objectives

​This course addresses one relatively simple, concrete way that pediatricians and other pediatric health care providers can reduce suicide: help families reduce youths' access to things at home that could most easily kill or seriously harm them. 

The learner will be able to: 

1. Explain why reducing access to highly lethal suicide methods, especially firearms, can prevent suicide deaths. 
2. Understand how counseling on access to lethal means is part of a comprehensive suicide prevention strategy. 
3. Communicate more effectively with families about routinely restricting youths' access to firearms and dangerous medications and taking further steps if a patient is suicidal or struggling with behavioral health issues. 
4. Feel confident that preventing youth suicide is an area on which providers, families, and gun owner groups find common ground. 

Course Details

• Start Date: July 28, 2022
• Online Access Expires: July 27, 2025
• Credit Expires: July 27, 2025
• Activity Type: Asynchronous Online Course
• Course ID: 60190

Acknowledgements

CALM was adapted with permission by the New Hampshire Firearm Safety Coalition.

This course was supported by the AAP Friends of Children Fund.

Faculty

New Hampshire Firearm Safety Coalition