Health
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HEALTH SYSTEM Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
UHealth Therapeutic Program for Adult Suicide Prevention
About the Program Suicide is a public health crisis, claiming
the lives of more than 47,000 Americans age 18 and older each year. It is the only top 10 cause of death that is rising. The UHealth Therapeutic Program for Adult Suicide Prevention targets adults aged 44 and older. A vulnerable population, data has shown that the rate of suicide among middle-aged people continues to climb. As high-risk patients age, they tend to display less self-injurious non-suicidal behavior and are at greater risk of successfully committing suicide. Using a combination of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based techniques, the expert clinicians in the UM Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will administer a personalized treatment plan for each individual participating in the program.
Patient Criteria and Program Structure Patient Criteria l l
Age 44 years and older Experiencing suicidal ideation and are willing to commit to safety Exclusionary criteria includes psychotic symptoms and severe personality disorders
Program Structure
Patients will be required to commit t0 the following program, lasting approximately 24 weeks, subject to the patient’s progress: l
One hour per week of individual therapy
l
Four hours per week of group therapy
l
Psychiatric medication management as needed
The goals of our program are to provide a coping-based intervention that will oer lasting relief from suicidal ideation and reduce the risk of suicide attempts. Our patient-centered, structured approach has been shown to be the best strategy to reduce the risk of suicide. This program is learning-based; in addition to individual and group therapies, it relies on medication as an adjunct to manage mood symptoms while developing the internalized skills to reduce the risk of suicide and increase enjoyment and satisfaction with life.
The Therapies Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Research shows that DBT has been successful in treating people who experience suicidal ideations. A variety of DBT interventions are effective for reducing suicide attempts and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) episodes. DBT teaches skills that help the person regulate, tolerate, and label their emotions, as well as decrease conflict in relationships. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidence-based form of psychological treatment that is geared towards helping a person understand how their thoughts and feelings impact and influence behaviors. Research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. Complementary to DBT, this therapy focuses on changing the patient’s thinking patterns, problematic emotions, and behavior.
The Rising Rates of Suicide One in five Americans aged 18 and older— more than 43 million people— suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year Nearly 10
million of these people
experience suicidal ideation
In 2017, the highest suicide rate was among
adults between 45 and 54 years of age Suicide and self-injury cost the US $69 billion annually Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US and rising, with more than 47,000 suicides reported each year
Contact UHealth Therapeutic Program for Adult Suicide Prevention Don Soffer Clinical Research Center 1120 NW 14th Street, Suite 1484A Miami, Florida 33136 For additional questions and referrals, please contact Zili Khan, MSW, LCSW, Program Coordinator, at zhk3@med.miami.edu or 305.243.9875. Patients will be screened by program clinicians for appropriateness prior to acceptance into the program.
The UHealth Therapeutic Program for Adult Suicide Prevention is made possible thanks to a generous gift from the Fields Galley Private Foundation.