Over the past two decades, the U.S. suicide rate has steadily increased despite expanded efforts to reverse this trend via expanded awareness campaigns, wide implementation of suicide prevention programs and initiatives, and increased mental health advocacy, and antistigma campaigns. To the befuddlement, confusion, and frustration of researchers, clinicians, family members, and many others, these efforts have not reversed the trend of rising suicides in the U.S. Why do suicide rates continue to rise despite our best efforts? Why aren’t we better at this? What are we doing wrong?

This presentation sponsored by the Suicide and Self-Injury Special Interest Group seeks answers to these questions, and proposes that our typical strategies for preventing suicide are inadequate.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the prevalence of mental health conditions among suicide decedents
2. Differentiate the suicide risk continuum and multiple pathways model of suicide
3. Name the three phases of BCBT for suicide prevention