District of Columbia Suicide Rate Statistics
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SUICIDE RATES IN WASHINGTON DC
Washington D.C. has the lowest suicide rate in the U.S., currently ranking 51st for suicide deaths with 7.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people according to Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) data. Yet, despite this low suicide ranking compared with other U.S. states, suicide still ranks as a leading cause of death in Washington D.C., especially among young people.
Washington D.C. suicide rates by age group (CDC 2020 stats):
Throughout Washington, D.C., suicide is the:
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- 3rd leading cause of death for ages 10-25
- 4th leading cause of death for ages 25-34
- 5thleading cause of death for ages 35-44
- 8th leading cause of death for ages 45-54
- 15th leading cause of death for ages 55-64
- 20th leading cause of death for ages 65+
Overall, suicide is the 16th leading cause of death in Washington, D.C., and in 2019, more than 7 times as many people died by suicide than in alcohol related motor vehicle accidents. Worse, according to federal guidelines, 94.7% of communities in Washington D.C. did not have enough mental health providers to serve residents as recently as 2020.
Sources:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) & Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
A Look at Suicide Rates Ahead of 988 Launch—A National Three-Digit Suicide Prevention Hotline
THE CAMS SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSESSMENT, INTERVENTION, AND TREATMENT METHODOLOGY IS BACKED BY 30 YEARS OF ON-GOING CLINICAL RESEARCH
HOW CAMS-CARE CAN ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH IN WASHINGTON D.C.
The CAMS Framework has been proven through multiple randomized clinical trials to be the best assessment, intervention, and treatment to reduce suicide ideation. Mental health professionals have reported that the CAMS Framework has given them a way to confidently treat suicidal patients effectively in only 6-8 sessions. More importantly, patients have reported that they like using the CAMS Framework.
The CAMS Framework is recommended by such groups as the Zero Suicide Initiative, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Sentinel Event Alert (PDF) by the Joint Commission, and the 2021 Surgeon General’s Call to Action (PDF).
While it is important that communities learn how to identify the signs of suicide risk (often referred to as “gatekeeper” training), and maintain local suicide prevention crisis lines, it is crucial to have a network of healthcare providers in place and trained in evidence-base suicide-specific treatment to whom people identified as suicidal may be immediately referred. Such suicide-specific treatment is not generally available in hospitals or emergency departments.
Because CAMS is a flexible framework, it can be easily adapted to cultural preferences, various populations and a range of clinical settings, such as active-duty military, veterans, adolescents, children, community mental health, crisis centers, employee assistance programs, forensic settings, inpatient, outpatient, primary care, school settings, telehealth and University Counseling Centers.
The CAMS Framework has been on the cutting edge of telepsychology for a number of years. It has been proven effective in a variety of settings, including rural and frontier regions of the intermountain West of the United States, and the U.S. Army’s Warrior Resiliency Program in San Antonio, Texas for suicidal soldiers in geographically remote locations. CAMS is a highly interactive and collaborative structure that engages the patient in their own treatment and has been shown to be effective across a variety of settings.
CAMS-care offers several training options to meet various learning styles and budgets, as well as the challenges of remote rural communities. The CAMS treatment is available via online training, in-person role-play training, consultation calls, ZOOM training, and more.
Learn more about how CAMS addresses mental health. Find a CAMS Trained clinician in the District of Columbia.
WASHINGTON D.C. CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Social workers, counselors, and psychologists are each required to undergo a set number of Continuing Education Credit Hours every two years. Here are the current requirements for Continuing Education (CE) credits for the District of Columbia:
- Social workers in Washington D.C. are each required to take up to 40 CE Credit Hours every two years
- Counselors in Washington D.C. are also required to take up to 40 CE Credit Hours every two years
- Psychologists in Washington D.C. need 30 CE Credit hours every two years
Washington, D.C. Social Workers Are Required to Take Up to 40 CE Credit Hours Every Two Years
Counselors Need 40 CE Credit Hours Every 2 Years in Washington, D.C.
Psychologists in Washington, D.C. Need 30 CE Credit Hours Every Two Years
Model Bill to Effectively Reduce the Suicide Rate in Washington, D.C.
While training communities to identify the signs of suicide risk is important, it is not enough to effectively reduce the suicide rate. Legislation must be passed that requires all mental health professionals and primary care physicians to receive training in evidence-based, assessment, management, intervention, and treatment of suicide risk. Because, everyone deserves a life worth living.
CAMS-CARE SUICIDE PREVENTION PRODUCTS
CAMS-care offers training courses and materials for individuals and organizations in Washington D.C. Our products also allow professionals to earn CE credits to meet your state’s CE requirements:
The CAMS proven framework is introduced in Dr. Jobes book, Managing Suicidal Risk: A Collaborative Approach. The current edition includes evidence from decades worth of extensive research and has a greater emphasis on how to implement CAMS in clinical settings.
- You may earn 6 CE credits after reading the book and passing the CE test.
We offer training in addressing malpractice and ethical liability when working with suicidal patients, tips suggestions for working with difficult patients, and treating suicide risk with children and adolescents.
- CAMS-care offers engaging video training opportunities that give professionals the opportunity to earn 1 – 3 CE credits.
We also provide online and on-site Role-Play Training, Consultation Calls, and host Education Days for more hands-on approaches to the CAMS framework.
The CAMS proven framework is introduced in Dr. Jobes book, “Managing Suicidal Risk: A Collaborative Approach“. The current edition includes evidence data from decades worth of extensive research and has a greater emphasis on how to implement CAMS in clinical settings. You may earn 6 CE credits after reading the book and passing the CE test.
CAMS-care offers engaging video training opportunities that gives professionals to earn 1 – 3 CE credits. We’ve offer training in addressing malpractice and ethical liability when working with suicidal patients, tips suggestions for working with difficult patients, and treating suicide risk with children and adolescents.
We also provide online and on-site Role-Play Training, Consultation Calls, and host Education Days for more hands-on approaches to the CAMS framework.