504 | Navigating Self-Injury and Suicidality: The Intersection of Assessment, Faith, and Holistic Care

Given the prevalence of hopelessness and depression in today’s culture, many people of all ages struggle with self-injurious behaviors or suicidality. This workshop is designed for licensed mental health professionals, and ministry leaders seeking to better understand and assist clients facing these challenges through a framework of faith and clinical excellence for willing Christian clients. Participants will recognize that clinical assessment is an ongoing process and will examine diagnostic comorbidities, common predisposing factors, and the neurobiological roots of self-injurious behavior and suicidality. Participants will also define what constitutes a mental health crisis, identifying three critical situations that require mental health intervention or stabilization. Practical therapeutic interventions will be discussed, offering valuable tools for building effective treatment plans for clients dealing with these issues. In addition, participants will explore the basic pharmacology of emergency psychiatric medications, psychiatric stabilization, and inpatient hospitalization experiences, providing strategies to prepare and support clients through this critical process.