The Columbia Protocol is now widely recognized as a gold-standard, innovative suicide risk screening method. It has been implemented as policy in many states and systems across the U.S. and abroad, with tremendous benefit– identification of people who would have otherwise been missed while redirecting scarce resources. This workshop will review suicide prevention data, myths, the development of the tools, administration covering items that are predictive of increased risk, and the impact the Columbia Protocol is having across the globe. Participants will learn how to administer the full assessment and screening versions of the tool, how to customize the tools, and how to interpret results.

What You’ll Learn

• Explain how screening with the C-SSRS can be used to identify at-risk individuals and identify steps taken to implement a comprehensive screening program that includes targeted and public health approaches to prevention.
• Describe how utilizing a systemic best practice measurement, the C-SSRS, to identify suicidal ideation and behavior results in improved identification and precision, which ultimately saves lives and redirects scarce resources.
• Learn the types of suicidal ideation and the four behaviors that are predictive of imminent risk, and how to administer the C-SSRS full assessment and screener scales.

The training takes about two hours. It is recommended to set aside this full amount of time before starting the training, as there is no option to pause the training video. If you stop the video before completion, it will need to be restarted.

Health Services

Behavioral / Mental Health Self-Injury Crisis / Safety Crisis / Safety / Prevention Suicide / Suicidal Ideation

Last Updated: 03/29/26