In this episode, Dr. Tony Pisani, Kristina Mossgraber, and Dr. Melissa Dundas discuss the critical role primary care providers play in youth suicide prevention. They share personal insights, professional experiences, and practical strategies to support young people beyond just referrals to mental health services.

They cover how to build trust with youth, recognize warning signs, and create a culture of safety within healthcare settings and communities. Whether you're a clinician, educator, parent, or caregiver, this conversation offers valuable takeaways for fostering connection and providing effective support.

Note: This episode was originally released in 2023 through a collaboration with Aetna as “Practical Advice About Youth Suicide Prevention in Primary Care”. We loved this chat with Dr Dundas so much we wanted to share it again with our Never the Same Audience.

Guests:
Kristina Mossgraber is a suicide prevention advocate with lived experience and part of SafeSide’s faculty, dedicated to improving support systems for those struggling with mental health.
Dr. Melissa Dundas is a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist passionate about integrating mental health support into primary care.

Host:

Dr. Tony Pisani is a clinical psychologist and educational media lead at SafeSide Prevention.

Mentioned Resources:

Evidence-based suicide-specific treatments.
Safety planning intervention.
Improving cultural competence
Reformulating Suicide Risk Formulation, foreseeable changes.

If you or someone you know needs support:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US): 988
Lifeline (Australia) - 1800 551 800
Lifeline (New Zealand) - Phone: 0800 543 354 or Text 4357

Production Credits:
Hannah Mang, Senior Video Editor and Producer
Annie Lewis, Content and Communications Manager
Luke Pisani, Music

When Young People Need Support: Conversations That Matter with Dr. Melissa Dundas