Asking questions about mental health is not easy. What’s even harder is asking those questions well. But here’s the truth: community providers are uniquely positioned to spot the early warning signs of mental health struggles, including suicide risk. In fact, youth who attempt or die by suicide are far more likely to have contact with their PCP compared to a mental health provider in the months leading up to the event. Are providers identifying kids at risk? Are they asking the right questions in ways that open the door to real answers? In this episode, we confront this critical reality in front of a live audience. We are bringing practical tools to the hands of providers in our community. The way providers screen for emotional and mental health challenges can mean the difference between silence and survival.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience as our first community podcast experience. Stay tuned as we announce more opportunities like this across the region. This episode was cosponsored by The Liv Project: a nonprofit organization determined to take the conversation about youth mental health out of the shadows. For this episode, we have three incredible experts. Honey Beuf is the Co-Founder of The Liv Project, Liv’s Mother, as well as an educator and advocate. She was on the podcast previously to share the story behind their documentary ‘My Sister Liv.’ You can listen to that episode here. Susan Caso, MA LPC, is the Mental Health Advisor for The Liv Project, as well as a licensed therapist and author. Gina Herrmann, MD, is a pediatrician with Arvada Pediatric Associates.

Some highlights from this episode include:

How specific word choices or ways to phrase a question can make a huge difference in creating a safe space for children
Ways primary care providers can support families of children experiencing suicidal thoughts
Steps PCP offices can take to implement helpful mental health support processes
Understanding the support systems that exist in communities around the globe

For more information on Children’s Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

Suicide Prevention in Practice