A competent and confident behavioral and physical health care workforce can ensure:
- Early identification of suicide risk and
- Use of evidence-informed strategies to address the needs of suicidal individuals.
60 to 70 percent of individuals who die by suicide see a medical or behavioral health care professional in the year before death.
Senate Bill 48 (2017) was designed to support the behavioral and physical healthcare workforce. It does this by promoting continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment and management.
OHA has compiled a list of continuing education courses for consideration.
- OHA does not endorse or approve these courses.
- Licensees should contact their licensing boards (listed below) to determine if a class meets their board’s criteria for approved continuing education credits.
Reporting requirements
SB 48 requires providers licensed by the following agencies to report any suicide assessment, treatment and management continuing education they’ve taken.
The Oregon Medical Board and the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission survey their providers. OHA surveys providers licensed by other boards at re-licensure as part of the Health Care Workforce Reporting program. OHA compiles and reports this information to the Oregon legislature each even-numbered year.
Continuing education requirements effective July 1, 2022
Starting July 1, 2022, House Bill 2315 (2021) requires providers in the behavioral healthcare workforce to complete continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment and management for relicensure. Oregon Administrative Rules and an implementation plan are currently under development.
HB 2315 requires 2 hours every two years or 3 hours every three years of continuing education in suicide assessment, treatment and management for the following license categories:
- A clinical social worker, as defined in ORS 675.510;
- A regulated social worker, as defined in ORS 675.510;
- A licensed marriage and family therapist, as defined in ORS 675.705;
- A licensed psychologist, as defined in ORS 675.010;
- A licensed professional counselor, as defined in ORS 675.705;
- A school counselor, as defined by rule by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission;
- A qualified mental health associate;
- A qualified mental health professional;
- A certified alcohol and drug counselor;
- A prevention specialist;
- A problem gambling treatment provider;
- A recovery mentor;
- A community health worker;
- A personal health navigator;
- A personal support specialist;
- A peer wellness specialist;
- A doula;
- A family support specialist;
- A youth support specialist; and
- A peer support specialist.