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Activity Dates: 04/19/2023 - 04/19/2026

Session Time and Location

The live session is complete.

Target Audience

If you are a pharmacist, nurse practitioner, or other health care professional involved in the comprehensive medication management of individuals living with mental health and/or substance use disorders, we invite you to participate in this online course.

Session Summary

Death by suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in persons age 10-24 years and the rate of death by suicide has continued to increase annually since 2007. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2007-2018, the rate rose over 60%. This phenomena has only become more dire in recent years due to the isolation caused by the pandemic. In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a state of emergency in response to the mental health challenges facing children, adolescents, and their families. During this session, participants will learn possible explanations for this growing crisis, its impact, and strategies to mitigate risk.

Published Research Related to this Session: 

  • Lavender J, Benningfield MM, Merritt JA, Gibson RL, Bettis AH. Measurement-Based Care in the Adolescent Partial Hospital Setting: Implementation, Challenges, & Future Directions. Evid Based Pract Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2022;7(4):439-451. doi: 10.1080/23794925.2021.1981178. Epub 2021 Oct 13. PMID: 36439894; PMCID: PMC9683479.
  • Merritt J, Tanguturi Y, Fuchs C, Cundiff AW. Medical Etiologies of Secondary Psychosis in Children and Adolescents. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2020 Jan;29(1):29-42. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2019.08.005. Epub 2019 Oct 9. PMID: 31708051.
  • Merritt J, Benningfield M. Lessons From the Street Through a Homeless Youth With Depression. Psychiatr Serv. 2019 Jun 1;70(6):526-527. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.70601. Epub 2019 Apr 30. PMID: 31035895.

Course Requirements

To receive ACPE credit for this session, you must:

  • Sign in (or create a FREE account).
  • Register for this course.
  • Review the full content of the activity and reflect upon its teachings.
  • Complete the post-test at the end of the activity no later than the closing activity date.
  • Complete the evaluation at the end of the activity.
  • If necessary, complete the post-test retest no later than the closing activity date.
  • Receive a passing grade (70%).
  • Provide the necessary details in your profile to ensure correct reporting by AAPP to CPE Monitor.

Upon successful completion, ACPE credit is reported within 24 hours to CPE Monitor although transcripts can be retrieved by participants online in their ACPE Transcript.

Faculty Information

Jessica "Jessie" Merritt, MD

View biographical information

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the current mental health landscape for adolescents and young adults and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted it.
  2. Identify risk factors and warning signs for suicide among adolescents and young adults.
  3. Describe the relationship between social media and self-harm behaviors and suicide.
  4. Discuss preventative measures that have been efficacious in reducing self-harm behaviors and suicide in adolescents and young adults.

Continuing Education Credit and Disclosures

Activity Dates: 04/19/2023 - 04/19/2026
ACPE Contact Hours: 1
ACPE Number: 0284-0000-23-041-H01-P (Knowledge)
Nursing Credit Reminder: Note that ACPE credit is accepted for ANCC Certification Renewal and AANPCB advanced practice provider content. For specific questions related to your organization's acceptance of ACPE continuing education units, please contact your organization directly.

ACPEThe American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

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