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ForwardNavigating Grief and Suicide as a Behavioral Health Provider
Social workers regularly engage with clients experiencing grief – whether it’s the reason for referral or not. They do not always have adequate training regarding different grief experiences (including disenfranchised grief, suicide grief, etc.) which impacts their ability to provide appropriate interventions. Research shows that grief is experienced differently depending on the cause of death. It is important that social workers understand these nuances to best be able to assess their clients (including possible suicidality) and effectively treat clients. Social workers supporting clients through grief are also at risk of vicarious trauma and burnout. They do not often receive training related to supporting themselves as helpers during instances of grief – in particular, when they are grieving a client or colleague.
This activity will discuss how various team members may respond to clients experiencing grief and their own personal transference related to the loss. It will discuss the importance of caring for oneself as a practitioner while working through client’s grief as well as acknowledging your own.
Target Audience
Social Worker
Learning Objectives
• Define grief and identify types and variations and related symptoms
• Discuss suicide, including assessment, treatment and management, as well as special considerations for the grieving experience
• Identify strategies, techniques and resources for supporting bereaved clients, colleagues and yourself
Additional Information
Social workers regularly engage with clients experiencing grief – whether it’s the reason for referral or not. They do not always have adequate training regarding different grief experiences (including disenfranchised grief, suicide grief, etc.) which impacts their ability to provide appropriate interventions. Research shows that grief is experienced differently depending on the cause of death. It is important that social workers understand these nuances to best be able to assess their clients (including possible suicidality) and effectively treat clients. Social workers supporting clients through grief are also at risk of vicarious trauma and burnout. They do not often receive training related to supporting themselves as helpers during instances of grief – in particular, when they are grieving a client or colleague.
This activity will discuss how various team members may respond to clients experiencing grief and their own personal transference related to the loss. It will discuss the importance of caring for oneself as a practitioner while working through client’s grief as well as acknowledging your own.
Bridget McNamee, MID, Behavioral Health Project Manager, Jewish Healthcare Foundation
Elizabeth Schandelmeier, LCSW, APHSW-C, FT
Janet Arida
Denija DuCasse
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the University of Pittsburgh and The Jewish Healthcare Foundation. The University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University of Pittsburgh maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 continuing education credits.
Social Work (ASWB)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Social Work Education activity is 1.0 contact hours.
Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.
Available Credit
- 1.00 ASWB
- 1.00 Attendance