Treatment Strategies for Seniors at Risk for Suicide

Course Description:
Seniors are uniquely at high risk for suicide, because, more often than with other age groupings, they are successful when they engage in self-directed violence with suicide intent. The drivers of suicide risk for seniors have been identified, and these offer insights into how and why specific treatment strategies will be instrumental. Promising and evidence based approaches consistent with these strategies will be discussed.

Goals:

1. Participants will understand the drivers of suicide risk for seniors that must be targeted for successful treatment.
    
2. Participants will learn about the theories and related interventions that can be used to improve the mental health of seniors.
    
3. Participants will understand the unique considerations of this population.
   
4. Participants will learn how to develop an effective suicide prevention safety plan for the a-risk senior.

Presenter:

Dr. Joseph Hunter, PhD, LCSW is a highly experienced and well-educated behavioral health leader with over 16 years of combined state and federal government employment experience, primarily as a subject matter expert in the behavioral health field in the areas of substance use disorders and suicide prevention; he possess strong leadership and team building skills that have contributed to the development of numerous specialized innovations in the areas of clinical practice, research, and treatment programming; and, he is an experienced and talented educator for graduate students, as well as seasoned professionals. His education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (1989), a Masters Degree in Social Work (1993), and a Ph.D. in Social Work (2010).

In 2005, Dr. Hunter was awarded the SAMHSA Dissertation Grant to complete his study on adolescent substance use disorder treatment. In 2011, Dr. Hunter was selected for two-year post-doctoral fellowship, and as a result was recognized as a VA/Hartford Geriatric Social Work Scholar. This year, Dr. Hunter has received distinguished recognition for his innovative work in behavioral health.

Dr. Hunter serves as the VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY, currently on detail to the National Suicide Prevention Office. In addition, Dr. Hunter joined the University of Southern California (USC) School of Social Work as part-time adjunct lecturer in 2013. Currently, as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, he teaches Masters of Social Work (MSW) courses in the areas of: clinical practice with service members and veterans, evidence-based clinical practice in mental health settings, mental health and human development, and mental health research. He is also a New York State approved provider of online and in-person continuing education for licensed social workers in New York State, offering training privately and for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).