Suicide is a public health issue affecting over 700,000 people worldwide each year and has become one of the leading causes of death in the United States. However, despite its impact, many social work training programs dedicate little time to suicide prevention education, leaving future professionals with limited preparation to address this crisis.

To tackle this challenge, researcher Antonia Díaz-Valdés, along with Christina M. Sellers, Sky Gavis-Hughson, Eileen Dacey, and Cali-Ryan R. Collin, participated in a study published in the journal Social Work Education. The study evaluates the impact of Online Patient Simulations (OPS) in training social work students for suicide risk assessment.

The pilot study included 16 Master of Social Work (MSW) students enrolled in an elective course on suicide at a university in the northeastern United States. Participants had access to theoretical classes, group exercises, and a virtual patient simulation platform, where they could practice suicide risk assessment in a safe and controlled environment.

Key Findings

Improvement in clinical skills: Students who used online simulation showed a significant increase in their ability to assess suicide risk.
Increased confidence: Students’ confidence in their ability to assess and treat patients at risk of suicide improved notably after using OPS.
Importance of repeated practice: Those who used the simulation more frequently showed greater skill improvement compared to those who used it less.

Study Relevance

This study highlights the potential of online simulations as an innovative tool in mental health training. By allowing students to practice suicide risk assessments in a safe environment, the risks for real patients are reduced, and future social workers strengthen their competencies.

Since mental health professionals are on the front lines of suicide prevention, it is crucial that they receive proper training to conduct accurate assessments without fear of compromising the quality of care.

You can find the study here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02615479.2025.2481065?src=

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