Implement an effective approach to pediatric suicide prevention with CAMS—an evidence-based, suicide-focused, solution designed to work in children’s hospital settings.
Training is available for:
- Crisis response teams
- Emergency department providers
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Graduate students and peers under supervision
Youth Mental Health Crisis
More children and youth today are experiencing serious thoughts of suicide than in previous generations. In fact, child and adolescent mental health was declared a national emergency in the U.S. in 2021.1 Between 2016 and 2022, children’s hospitals saw a 166% rise in emergency visits for children ages 5 to 18 who attempted suicide or harmed themselves.2
Emergency departments (EDs) are overwhelmed by the amount of traffic coming through the doors. Mental health-related emergencies are often deprioritized, complicating outcomes for the child and their family. Many studies show that after being discharged, a person’s risk of suicide increases.3 About 30% of patients who visit the emergency department for suicide-related issues return within a year.4 CAMS-care is on a mission to ensure that young patients get the appropriate care that they need to resolve their suicidal ideation.
Case Study: Colorado’s Blueprint for Suicide-Specific Care
In 2024, the Pediatric Mental Health Institute (PHMI), a department within Children’s Colorado, developed a groundbreaking outpatient Crisis Services strategic plan, enhanced by the CAMS Framework®. Their Crisis Clinic has since been helping transform mental health for youth across the state through accessible and tailored outpatient services.
How CAMS Can Help
CAMS is an evidence-based, suicide-focused framework proven to reduce thoughts of suicide. It can reduce overall distress and increase hope in as few as 6 sessions. Research shows that the first session of CAMS (CAMS Brief Intervention) can significantly reduce distress by 58%. Used in ED, inpatient and outpatient settings, CAMS is much more than a therapeutic assessment. As a treatment, CAMS helps ensure between-session stability while identifying, targeting, and treating patient-identified “drivers” that make the child consider suicide as a means of coping. Within CAMS-BI, a proven therapeutic assessment is provided. The CAMS Stabilization Plan is also created. This includes finding two key drivers that need more care. All of this can be done in one effective clinical hour.
Benefits of CAMS for Children’s Hospitals
Cost-Effective Solution
CAMS helps prevent repeat visits and escalations by providing patients with a discharge treatment plan. This keeps them moving forward with care while improving staff confidence.
Helps Reduce Malpractice Risk Exposure
CAMS significantly reduces the risk of malpractice due to its use of thorough documentation, through a multipurpose clinical tool called the Suicide Status Form. Staff feel confident and competent when using CAMS to treat youth at risk.
Shared Language
When CAMS is being used in a system of care, it creates a shared language for each provider who works with the patient moving forward. This helps ensure that the patient is getting the best care possible and that progress is being made on the issues that lead them to consider suicide.
A Clear Path Forward for Patients
Recovery is always the end goal. By training hospital staff in suicide prevention with CAMS, you’re helping young patients receive a clear and direct path for treatment and recovery.
How CAMS Training Works
CAMS offers training designed to be used in children’s hospitals’ emergency departments and in-patient settings. We recommend that providers become CAMS Trained™ followed by Advanced CAMS training programs such as CAMS-4Teens® and CAMS Brief Intervention (CAMS-BI™)
CAMS-BI is a training specifically designed for those working in emergency departments and hospitals. When using CAMS-BI™, you help set young patients up for success by creating a personalized treatment plan and referral for outpatient care. These shorter, one-hour consultations have quick impact. 58% of patients say they feel less distress afterwards. They also report feeling more motivated to live.
As a clinician who has lost a loved one to suicide, I can vouch for CAMS being not only instructive but also personally healing in helping me feel like I CAN help people who think of suicide.
Evan Merida, MA, LPC, NCC
Sun and Shade Counseling, Denver, CO
The approach of sitting with a client’s thoughts of self harm without immediately jumping to hospitalization has led to better outcomes — both because I’m more confident to stay in that space with them and because that willingness creates a greater trust between us.
CAMS Trained Clinician
Frequently Asked Questions
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among youth, according to the CDC. Training equips pediatric providers with tools to detect early warning signs, intervene safely, and foster hope. A consistent, evidence-based framework like CAMS enhances clinician confidence, supports family engagement, and improves outcomes in crisis settings. (CAMS-care)
Unlike static checklists, CAMS is a dynamic, therapeutic process that centers the patient’s “drivers,” underlying personal reasons for suicidal ideation, and engages them directly in safety planning. It fosters genuine hope and healing rather than solely quantifying risk. (CAMS-care)
Yes. CAMS Brief Intervention (CAMS-BI™) is specifically designed for settings like EDs or inpatient units. In just one session, clinicians can use CAMS-BI to engage pediatric patients in a collaborative, therapeutic intervention that stabilizes crises and reduces overall healthcare costs. (CAMS-care)
While requirements vary by jurisdiction, many institutions are incorporating evidence-based training, like CAMS, as part of mandated education, especially under Zero Suicide or Joint Commission standards. Even when not mandated, such training is critical for ethical, effective care in pediatric settings.
1 https://www.aap.org/en/advocacy/child-and-adolescent-healthy-mental-development/aap-aacap-cha-declaration-of-a-national-emergency-in-child-and-adolescent-mental-health/
2 https://www.childrenshospitals.org/content/behavioral-health/summary/the-state-of-pediatric-suicide
3 https://www.jointcommissionjournal.com/article/S1553-7250(24)00067-9/fulltext
4 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4504270/