Producer: Minnesota Psychological Association
Telehealth will extend mental health care services to historically underserved rural areas, where rates of suicide are higher than in urban areas. This presentation will explore clinical, ethical, and legal considerations for using telehealth with rural populations at risk of suicide. First, the presentation will provide an overview of telehealth as an emerging class of interventions with rapidly evolving legal and ethical standards. Historically, stakeholders have shared concerns about treating suicidal clients with telehealth due to the potential challenges of accurate risk assessment and emergency intervention due to physical distance and technology limitations. Second, the presentation will review evidence-based theories of suicide and their application to rural populations. Why do people attempt suicide? What distinguishes suicide ideators from suicide attempters? Why do individuals in rural areas die of suicide at higher rates than in non-rural areas? How can clinicians apply knowledge of risk/protective factors to accurate risk assessment via telehealth? Third, the presentation will review intervention strategies for working with rural clients at risk of suicide via telehealth. These include technology considerations, evidence-based treatments, and considerations for informed consent. Attendees will have an opportunity to apply knowledge to a series of clinical vignettes.
This session is at the intermediate level and is intended for psychologists and other mental health professionals.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Courses sponsored by the Vermont Psychological Association are pre-approved for continuing education for psychologists by the Vermont Board of Psychological Examiners. This course qualifies for 1.5 continuing education credits.
Continuing education courses sponsored by the Vermont Psychological Association are pre-approved by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation for continuing education credit for licensed independent clinical social workers in Vermont. This course provides 1.5 CE credits for Vermont licensing.
This course has been approved for continuing education credit by the Vermont Board of Allied Mental Health and earns 1.5 continuing education credits.
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. These credits are also accepted by the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice for clinical social workers licensed in New Hampshire, as provided in Mhp 402.02(b)(1). The course qualifies for 1.5 continuing education credits.
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. These credits are also accepted by the New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice for clinical mental health counselors licensed in New Hampshire, as provided in Mhp 402.02(b)(1). The course qualifies for mandated credit types as follows:
Ethics:
Suicide Prevention:
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved to offer continuing education to licensed clinical social workers by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, and is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education to psychologists. This course thus qualifies for 1.8 continuing education credits for Massachusetts licensed clinical social workers in Massachusetts under 258 C.M.R. §§ 31.04(2)(d), 31.04(5).
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved to offer continuing education to licensed clinical social workers by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation, and is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education to psychologists. This course thus qualifies for 1.8 continuing education credits for Massachusetts licensed certified social workers in Massachusetts under 258 C.M.R. §§ 31.04(2)(d), 31.04(5).
The Vermont Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association as a continuing education sponsor for psychologists. Continuing education credit in the amount of 1.5 credits earned in this course may be accepted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health for licensed clinical social workers under Conn. Agencies Regs. § 20-195o(c)-3.
This course is pre-approved for credit for Connecticut licensed professional counselors under Conn. Agencies Regs § 20-195cc-3(a)(1). This course qualifies for 1.5 continuing education credits.
| Slides.PDF (2.5 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
Dr. Kevin Tarlow is a Licensed Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hampton University. He received his PhD in Counseling Psychology at Texas A&M University. He has a private practice in Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Tarlow studies telebehavioral health care, trauma, and mental health disparities. He has also developed single-case research methods for educational and psychological research. His experience serving uninsured patients in areas with mental health care shortages led Dr. Tarlow to create lowcosthelp.com, a national directory of affordable counseling services.
The presenter reports no conflicts of interest.
Identify emerging trends in telehealth, including rural mental health care and suicide prevention applications.
Explain how evidence-based theories of suicide may be applied to risk assessment with rural populations via telehealth.
Explain how clinicians treating rural suicidal clients via telehealth can intervene ethically using knowledge of technology, informed consent, and evidence-based practice.
