Assessment and Management of Suicidal Crisis in Emergency Settings
A webinar by the EPA Section on Suicidology, the French Congress of Psychiatry, and the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health.
Abstract
Suicidal crises require rapid, multidimensional responses that balance acute safety, clinical judgment, and long-term recovery planning.
This webinar will provide an in-depth exploration of the latest consensus-based recommendations for the assessment and acute management of suicidal crisis. Drawing from expert recommendations derived from a Delphi method study involving experts from the EPA Section on Suicidology, attendees will gain practical insights into effective strategies to take care of suicidal patients. The program is structured around three key themes:
- Comprehensive Assessment – Attendees will learn how to systematically assess suicide risk and identifying key intervention targets.
- Immediate Intervention – The session will cover acute care strategies, including non-pharmacological approaches (safety planning, collaborative decision-making) and the potential role of (s)-ketamine as a rapid-acting anti-suicidal agent. Practical guidance on the safe use of sedatives during a suicidal crisis will also be provided.
- Long-Term Management – The final segment will address ongoing care, focusing on proactive follow-up, case management, and the integration of therapeutic and pharmacological interventions to prevent future suicidal behaviours.
Together, these presentations will offer an integrated, evidence-informed perspective on managing suicidal crises — from acute interventions to sustained recovery.
By the end of the webinar, participants will be equipped with practical tools and knowledge to enhance patient safety and improve outcomes in crisis care.
Key Learning Objectives
- Identify appropriate methods for assessing individuals in suicidal crisis, including clinical indicators, risk factors, and decision-making tools.
- Understand the principles of acute intervention, with a focus on safety planning and joint medical decision-making.
- Understand the role, indications, and limitations of pharmacological interventions—with a focus on ketamine and sedation—in the acute management of suicidal patients.
- Explore strategies for long-term care planning, emphasizing continuity of care, patient safety, and relapse prevention in individuals recovering from a suicidal crisis.
Registrations are open!
Moderators
Philippe Courtet, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Montpellier, (France) and Head of the Department of Emergency & Acute Care Psychiatry at the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Montpellier. Chair of the EPA Scientific Section on Suicidology and Suicide Prevention. Biography
Ana González-Pinto, Professor of Psychiatry and Scientific Director CIBERSAM. Chief of the Department Psychiatry Hospital Universitario de Alava, University of the Basque Country (Spain). Biography
Speakers
Vincent Jardon, Psychiatrist at the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Lille (France). Biography
Aistė Lengvenytė, Psychiatrist and Researcher at the University Hospital Center (CHU) Lapeyronie of Montpellier(France). Biography
Emilie Olié, Full Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Montpellier (France). Biography
Pilar Sáiz, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oviedo (Spain). Biography
Details
Title: Assessment and Management of Suicidal Crisis in Emergency Settings
Date: Wednesday 10 September 2025
Time: 16:30 – 18:00 CEST
Platform: Zoom
Registration: Open
Programme
16:30 – 16:35 | Prof. Philippe Courtet
16:35 – 16:50 | Dr Vincent Jardon – Assessment of an Individual in Suicidal Crisis
16:50 – 17:05 | Dr Aistė Lengvenytė – Classical immediate management (safety plan & concerns of Sedation)
17:05 – 17:20 | Prof. Emilie Olié – Immediate Care of an Individual in Suicidal Crisis: A Place for Ketamine
17:20 – 17:35 | Prof. Pilar Sáiz – Interventions with a Long-term Approach
17:35 – 17:55 | Q&A Session
17:55 – 18:00 | Prof. Ana González-Pinto – Conclusions