Testing a suicide prevention training protocol in rural Primary Care practices

In the United States, suicide rates in rural counties are higher across demographic groups than in urban areas. Due to cultural and workforce factors in rural areas, Primary Care Providers (PCPs) are frequently the sole providers for many patients with mental health concerns. Research has shown that, in the US, approximately 66% of individuals who complete suicide have visited their primary care physician within one month of their death. Primary care providers in rural areas are thus uniquely positioned to conduct focused suicide prevention practices. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Mental Health Program, in collaboration with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), has developed a Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Rural Primary Care to assist rural PCPs in effectively identifying and intervening with suicidal patients. The purpose of the Toolkit is to bring best practices in suicide prevention to rural primary care and to offer physicians, patients, and rural communities the tools and support they need. A training program based on this Toolkit has been developed and is currently being tested in rural Primary Care practices. This presentation will include an educational overview of suicide prevention in Primary Care, and a description of the training program being tested. Over 300 professionals from a minimum of 10 Primary Care practices across the country will be trained as part of this study, and data will be collected to measure the effectiveness of the training program. The practical importance of the results will be discussed. ill be discussed.