A Successful Clinical Psychology Professional Training Workshop

On Friday, September 16, the Department of Psychology's Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology conducted a professional training workshop: "Depression and Suicide: Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment."

The workshop was organized by Psychology Clinic Director, Douglas Barnett, and Associate Director, Marla Bartoi. The event was also supported by the Clinical Psychology Graduate Student Organization (Kiel Opperman, Nia Billings, and Patty Richardson), the African American Psychology Student Organization (Susan Woods, President and founder), and the Dean of Students Office.

This year's workshop was prompted by the tremendous problem of suicide, which has affected not only untold thousands of Americans and their families, but also members of our own program. The morning workshop featured an interactive suicide alertness training by the SafeTALK program, which helps people learn to recognize signs of suicidality and discuss it openly.

The afternoon consisted of three presentations: "Depression, Self-injurious Behavior, and Suicide in Adults" (Dr. Scott Longenecker, University of Illinois, Chicago), "Understanding Adolescent Suicide Risk" (Dr. Cheryl King, University of Michigan), and "Cultural Components of Depression and Suicide" (Dr. Michael Kral, Wayne State University School of Social Work).

Each year for well over a decade, Wayne State's Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program has organized and offered training workshops. These events bring the latest in evidence-based assessment and intervention approaches to the program's faculty and doctoral students as well as to mental health trainees and professionals across the campus and in the community.

This year's event was attended by 110 people, including undergraduates; graduate students in social work, counseling, and clinical psychology; external practicum supervisors; and doctoral alumni of the program. Of note, the doctoral program has recently been approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education, which was provided to 21 psychologists this year.