Course Summary

Autistic people are seven times more likely to die from suicide than the general population and are significantly more likely to attempt suicide. Research also suggests 66% of Autistic people have experienced suicidal thoughts.

This online course aims to up-skill practicing mental health professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide appropriate clinical care, including risk assessment and safety planning for Autistic Adolescents & Adults. The course is based on the latest international research, policy and practice developments in suicidality, which have been co-designed with researchers, professionals and Autistic people. Dr Ratcliffe utilises her signature style of bringing the latest evidence-based practice to life with real-life clinical and case examples, combined with a range of reflection and interactive activities to keep the learner interested and engaged. Participant skills' practice, combined with new clinical tools for risk assessment and safety planning will help mental health professionals to have increased knowledge, skills and confidence to provide inclusive mental health care to neurodivergent people. This course has already been completed by over 1000 mental health professionals (as at November 2023!) and is based on Dr Belinda Ratcliffe's highly successful (always sold-out!) 1-day live workshop. This is NOT a recorded webinar - the course has been specifically designed, professionally edited and adapted for online learning.
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Online Self-paced Course Overview

Mental Health Professionals will increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in suicide, self-harm and safety planning for Autistic Adolescents & Adults.

  • Introduction to Suicide & Self-harm in Autistic Adolescents & Adults

  • Risk & Protective Factors for Self-harm & Suicide in Autistic Adolescents & Adults

  • How to Conduct a Suicide Risk Assessment for Autistic Adolescents & Adults (including new tool to measure suicidal behaviour)

  • How to do Safety Planning with Autistic Adolescents & Adults (including new safety planning template(s))

  • Clinical Case Studies - Bringing it all together (including new tool to support Autistic people when triggered/ in crisis)

  • 8 hours of CPD

  • Certificate of participation on completion of quiz within 1 month of the workshop

  • Participants will have 12 months access to the course.

Bonus Material!

  • Access to Suicide Behaviour Questionaire - Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC)

    Developed by Dr Sarah Cassidy (Assistant Professor, University of Nottingham, UK) & colleagues and shared with Dr Cassidy's permission in this training The Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire – Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC)© is a 5 item evidence-based self-report measure (Cassidy, Bradley, Cogger-Ward & Rodgers, 2021) designed to identify suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviours in autistic adults without co-occurring intellectual disability.

  • Mental Health Autism: Safety Plan Template

    Safety planning is an evidence-based technique (Stanley & Brown, 2012) that provides a step by step plan in the event of a suicidal crisis and has been identified by Autistic People as potentially useful. A worked Clinical Example is provided using the evidence-based MH Autism Safety Plan Template.

  • Interactivity!

    NOT a recorded webinar - this course is specifically designed for online learning by Dr Ratcliffe and gives opportunities for reflection and skills development via interesting and engaging activities.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for practicing mental health professionals, wanting to gain knowledge, skills and competence in supporting Autistic young people and/or adults who are experiencing suicidallity. This course is best suited to those who have foundational knowledge in Autism (e.g. professionals with experience in Autism and/or have already completed 'Foundations in Autism for Mental Health Professionals - with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe')

  • Psychologists

  • Mental Health Social Workers

  • Mental Health Occupational Therapsists

  • Counsellors

  • Psychiatrists

  • Mental health nurses

  • Paediatricians

  • Provisional Psychologists/Registrars

Just some of the lovely previous participant feedback:

  • This was one of the best trainings I have done in a long time - thank you! Belinda was a highly competent and engaging trainer who imparted much evidence-based knowledge and unpacked many practical experiences.

  • Thank you, this training was excellent and the simple to use techniques learned will slot into my practice nicely

  • Belinda has a rare gift in translating complex concepts in such a way that makes it seem "simple". This training is BOTH very practical, AND grounded in evidence - EVERY mental health professional should do this training - it should be rolled out!

  • Very engaging, excellent way to build knowledge and filled with practical things that I have already started using with clients

  • I love your training Belinda, you are warm, genuine and so knowledgeable. It's so refreshing!

  • Amazing thank you. So comprehensive.

  • This course is fantastic... Even professionals I know in the ND area who are well regarded, should probably do this workshop.

  • I loved the overall structure. I loved coming away with lots of ready to use resources.

  • Very engaging, excellent way to build knowledge and filled with practical things that I have already started using with clients

  • The online resources in the portal are very relevant, not too many, just enough!

  • Extremely helpful and immediately able to implement info taught

  • Great training, Dr Belinda was so knowledgeable and provided many academic and clinic based examples.

Pricing options

  • $389.00

    Mental Health Professional (Fully Qualified)

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  • $289.00

    Provisional/Registrar Psych

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Course Prerequisites

Although not essential, it is highly recommended that participants complete Foundations in Autism for Mental Health Professionals -with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe (online, on demand course) prior to completion of this more advanced live virtual workshop

  • All Courses

    Foundations in Autism for Mental Health Professionals - with Dr Belinda Ratcliffe

    (24) 4.9 average rating

    This course is aimed at up-skilling mental health professionals in evidence-based practice in clinical assessment and mental health treatment for verbal children, adolescents and adults with Autism and/or mild intellectual disability.

    49 Lessons $389.00
Enroll now - Foundations in Autism

Instructor(s)

Lecturer, Author & Clinical Psychologist

Dr Belinda Ratcliffe

Dr. Belinda Ratcliffe, lead author of the award-winning Westmead Feelings Program 1 for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is a highly qualified Principal Clinical Psychologist and Researcher with a PhD in Autism Spectrum Disorder from the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. Belinda has received multiple prizes in recognition of her work. Dr. Ratcliffe is a former Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology at Western Sydney University, leads a team of Clinicians in South Sydney at 'The Emotions Clinic Australia', dedicated to making a lasting impact in Autism, Intellectual Disability and Mental Health. Dr Ratcliffe provides training, clinical supervision and consultancy across Australia to a range of Health, Disability and Education Government, Non-government and Private agencies, including the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Mater Hospital in Brisbane and NSW Department of Education and Communities.

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