Depression and Suicide

Course Code: REL-ACU-0-DS

Hours: 1.5

Type: Online Course

Content Expiration Date: 3/31/2025

Learning Objectives:
Identify at least four elements for understanding suicidality and two symptoms of major depression.
Indicate at least three best practices used by healthcare professionals for screening, assessing, and responding to patients with suicidal ideation and their families.
Recall at least four medications prescribed for symptoms of depression and two other treatment options for patients experiencing depression and suicidal ideation.

Outline:
Section 1: Introduction

About This Course

Learning Objectives

Section 2: Depression and Suicide Basics

Meet Valerie

Suicide Rates

Who Is Vulnerable?

Chronic Disease Adds to the Risk

Remember Valerie?

Identifying Risk Factors and Warning Signs

Differentiating Suicidal Behaviors

Know the Warning Signs: “IS PATH WARM?”

Determining Suicidality

Screening for Suicidal Ideation

Summary

Section 3: Mood Disorders

What Is a Mood Disorder?

Bipolar Disorders

Conditions That May Contribute to Depression

Identifying Depression in Any Setting

Major Depressive Disorder

Differential Diagnosis

Adjustment Disorder

Bereavement

Seeing the Light

The No-Harm or No-Suicide Contract

Defeating the Stigma

Initiating an Effective Plan

Summary

Section 4: Psychopharmacology

Antidepressant Medications

Medications for Bipolar Disorders

Mood Stabilizers

Anticonvulsants

Antipsychotics

On the Road to Recovery

Discontinuation

Summary

Section 5: Providing Support and Referrals

Giving Counsel to Ease the Pain

Helping Families Help Patients

Finding the Right Resources

Summary

Section 6: Clinical Vignette

Meet Missy

Section 7: Conclusion

Course Summary

Course Contributors

Resources

References

Instructor: Sean Kennard BSN, RN

Sean Kennard is an Air Force veteran with 10 years of active-duty service plus clinical experience in various mental health settings. Sean was educated and trained In Virginia as a Registered Nurse, where he practiced pediatric behavioral health nursing at Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents in New Kent. He earned his Associate’s Degree in Nursing from ECPI University and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University. Sean is a former Program Director of a Senior Behavioral Health Unit and currently coaches licensure exam strategies to nursing graduates. His clinical skillset is in behavioral health across the lifespan, including behavioral case management and geropsychiatric nursing. He most recently worked as a Forensic Psych Nurse at Central State Hospital in Georgia during the onset of the pandemic before contracting with Relias as a Behavioral Health Subject Matter Expert Technical Writer.

Writer: Kimberly Workman, MA

Ms. Workman is an Instructional Designer at Relias. She has a Master of Arts in Technology and Communication, as well as graduate certificates in Public Health, Epidemiology, and Digital Communications. Ms. Workman has a background in writing and designing online continuing medical education for physicians and other health professionals on multiple educational platforms, including web-based, game-based, and immersive learning environments. She has also used simulation training extensively to connect learning to real-world environments.

Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Certified Medical Assistants; in the following settings: Acute Care Facility.

Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.

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All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.

To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.

Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.