Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Review current epidemiologic trends and developmental factors contributing to suicide risk among children and adolescents.

• Recognize key risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs of suicidal ideation across pediatric developmental stages.

• Implement evidence-based suicide risk screening using validated assessment tools in clinical practice.

• Differentiate between suicide screening, brief suicide safety assessments, and indications for urgent behavioral health intervention.

• Develop patient-centered safety plans that incorporate family engagement, lethal means counseling, and appropriate community resources.

• Apply trauma-informed communication strategies when discussing suicide risk with pediatric patients and their families.

• Identify local and national mental health resources to facilitate timely referral, treatment, and ongoing support for youth at risk of suicide.

This activity is designed for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, psychologists, social workers, counselors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals who provide care to children and adolescents in primary care, emergency medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, behavioral health, school-based health, urgent care, and specialty care settings. It is also appropriate for healthcare professionals seeking to strengthen their knowledge of evidence-based suicide risk screening, assessment, intervention, and referral to improve outcomes for youth at risk of suicide.