Suicide Assessment For Idiology

BOC Domains of Athletic Training: Domain I - Injury and Illness Prevention and Wellness Promotion Domain II - Examination, Assessment and Diagnosis Domain Ill - Critical Incident Management Domain V - Healthcare Administration and Professional Responsibility Presentation Description: This presentation addresses a critical aspect of sports emergency care – suicide assessment for ideology among athletes. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to suicide risk in athletes, equipping athletic trainers and students with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify athletes at risk. The session emphasizes effective communication techniques to approach the sensitive topic of suicide and guides attendees on appropriate referral pathways and available resources for at-risk athletes. Ultimately, the presentation focuses on empowering the audience to play a pivotal role in suicide prevention within athletic settings. Learning Objectives: Discuss the prevalence of suicide Discuss the importance of identifying suicide idiology Review the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Discuss patient privacy and confidentiality related to mental health emergencies Discuss immediate and follow-up steps for suicide-focused emergencies in athletic settings Clinical Practice Gap Statement: Within the scope of sports emergency care, the topic of suicide assessment for ideology is often sidelined, leaving a dangerous gap in the capabilities of athletic trainers and students. This deficiency in education and training means that they are not adequately prepared to identify and intervene in cases of suicidal ideation among athletes, creating a critical risk to athlete well-being. An educational void exists concerning both the recognition of signs and the development of intervention strategies. The need for focused education and concrete guidelines in this area cannot be overstated. Clinical Bottom Line Statement: Being prepared to identify suicide risks among athletes is non-negotiable for athletic trainers and students. Not only should they be proficient in recognizing the warning signs and risk factors, but they also need to be adept in sensitively communicating about this delicate issue. Furthermore, they must be knowledgeable about the appropriate referral resources and pathways to facilitate timely and effective intervention. This multi-faceted approach is fundamental to preserving both the mental and physical health of athletes. Summary Conclusion Statements: Mastery of the key contributing factors to athlete suicide risk is foundational for effective sports emergency care. Skillful identification of signs and symptoms associated with suicidal ideation is indispensable for timely intervention. Proficiency in tactful communication techniques is central to addressing the subject of suicide with athletes. Acquiring a robust understanding of the available referral pathways and resources is essential for providing comprehensive care to at-risk athletes. Athletic trainers and students are instrumental in implementing proactive strategies for suicide prevention, solidifying their role as protectors of athlete mental health.

      Timothy Neal is a certified athletic trainer and National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Hall of Fame member. Presently, Mr. Neal is the director of athletic training program and assistant professor at Concordia University Ann Arbor. Mr. Neal spent 35 years as a clinical athletic trainer and adjunct professor at Syracuse University, from 1979-2014. Mr. Neal has chaired two NATA sponsored Inter-Association Consensus Statement on psychological concerns in student-athletes, the first one on intercollegiate athletes in 2013, followed by another Statement in 2015 for interscholastic athletes. Mr. Neal also served on the writing group for the 2014 NATA Position Statement on Pre-Participation Physical Examinations and Medically Disqualifying Conditions, authoring sections on cardiac conditions, mental health, and medical clearance considerations. Tim has authored or revised two chapters in the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook (catastrophic incident planning, student-athlete mental health). Tim has served as NATA selected reviewer for endorsement of NCAA best practices in student-athlete mental health, and cardiovascular care of collegiate student-athletes. In 2018, Mr. Neal co-authored a year-long series of articles published monthly in the NATA News on legal, ethical, and regulatory issues facing athletic trainers. Mr. Neal is a member of the NCAA task forces on student-athlete mental health and wellness, sleep and wellness, and served on the 2010 panel on managing concussions in student-athletes. Mr. Neal is the NATA liaison to Mental Health America, and a member of the expert advisory board of the Jed Foundation. Mr. Neal was the chair of the NATA Committee on Professional Ethics from 2015-2019, and authored the updated NATA Code of Ethics in 2016.  Mr. Neal is certified in critical incident stress management by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), and is an approved ICISF instructor in CISM. Mr. Neal is a founding member of the NATA ATs Care committee. Mr. Neal was an original member of the NATA Professional Responsibility in Athletic Training committee. Mr. Neal is also on the editorial board of the NATA Athletic Training Education Journal. Mr. Neal has authored dozens of articles in peer and non-peer reviewed journals, and has presented to numerous audiences on various sports medicine, mental health, ethical, and risk management topics. Mr. Neal earned his Master’s degree at Syracuse University, and his Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. Mr. Neal is a member of the Ohio University Alumni Association Board of Directors. Currently, Mr. Neal is finishing his Master’s degree in social work at Ohio University in December 2023 to become a credentialed mental health provider.

Action Medicine Consultants, LLC (BOC AP#: P12095) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for a maximum of 0.75 Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program. GENERAL DISCLAIMER: It is the responsibility of the participant, relying on the independent expertise and knowledge of the patient, to determine the best treatment and method of application for the patient. Participants must use discretion when using the information contained within this presentation.  The presenter has provided the following regarding disclaimers: The information and content provided in this course are for informational purposes only. The presenter nor Action Medicine Consultants, LLC bears no liability for your use of this information and content. The views expressed in this course are those of the presenter(s). CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: In compliance with continuing education requirements, all presenters must disclose any financial or other associations with the manufacturers of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services, or commercial supporters as well as any use of unlabeled product(s) or product(s) under investigational use.  This presentation does not involve the unlabeled use of a product or product under investigational use.  During the presentation, the presenter provides disclosure of any relevant financial relationships or other associations.  Refund Policy:  Live (virtual or in-person) Courses - Full refunds (Minus 10% for handling fees) are given after completion of the course if cancellation request is received 14 days prior to the course date. No refunds will be given after this deadline, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course. This also applies to virtual courses if a technical issue occurred on the presenter side that prevented a full presentation from being performed. On-Demand Courses - No refunds will be given, but fees may be applied to another current or a future course if there is a technical issue in Action Medicine Consultant's delivery of the course and in which no certificate of completion was issued.