Framework being developed for social workers to intervene, prevent suicide

Social workers are often at the forefront of suicide prevention, and through a new task force, should soon be more prepared to respond to a mental-health crisis.

The National Association of Social Workers recently put together a task force including practitioners, clinical experts, researchers and individuals with lived experience to develop a unified framework for suicide prevention.

The initiative will equip all social workers with standardized, evidence-informed tools for intervention and is expected to be released next year.

“Creating a national standard of care for suicide prevention is both a professional responsibility and a moral imperative,” said Dr. Yvonne Chase, president of NASW. “This work reflects the values of our profession and our commitment to ensuring that social workers — regardless of where they practice — have the knowledge and support to save lives.

“We hope the work of this task force will lead to better training of social workers to address this crisis and lead to many more lives being saved.”

The NASW Task Force for Suicide Prevention Standard of Care will:

• Review existing research and best practices in suicide prevention across disciplines
• Draft core competencies for suicide risk assessment, safety planning and intervention
• Recommend culturally responsive approaches for diverse and historically underserved populations
• Propose updates to education, licensure and continuing education requirements
• Provide guidance to NASW chapters to ensure nationwide implementation

In 2023, more than 49,300 Americans died by suicide, an average of one person every 11 minutes.

In the same period, 1.5 million adults attempted suicide, and 12.8 million seriously thought about suicide.

“Social workers are often the first — and sometimes the only — mental health professionals that individuals come into contact with during a crisis,” said Dr. Anthony Estreet, CEO of NASW. “By developing a national standard, we are ensuring that every social worker, in every community, is trained and supported to effectively intervene.