Hard To Ask, Hard To Hear: What Gets in the Way of Suicide Assessment

Available with English captions and subtitles in Spanish.

For clinicians, asking about suicide isn’t just a question—it’s a moment of vulnerability and courage.

Learn what makes suicide assessment so challenging and how empathy and structure can coexist, helping you better understand your own barriers and find language that balances professionalism with compassion.

Why This Training Matters

Even experienced clinicians can feel tension when asking about suicide. The reasons are deeply human: fear, empathy, uncertainty, and the emotional weight of the topic.

This session offers insight and reassurance—reminding clinicians that the ability to ask difficult questions grows through awareness and practice. By addressing the “hard to ask” and “hard to hear” moments with honesty and humility, we can improve care, connection, and confidence in the work that matters most.

Key Takeaways

Clinicians will leave this session with a deeper understanding of themselves, their patients, and the shared humanity within suicide prevention.

  • Discomfort is normal; awareness and preparation make it manageable.
  • Open, compassionate communication fosters trust and disclosure.
  • Self-reflection and supervision are essential to professional growth.
  • Stigma reduction begins with clinician honesty and curiosity.
  • Effective suicide prevention blends courage, skill, and empathy.

Together, these takeaways affirm that asking about suicide is not just a clinical duty—it’s an act of care.

What You’ll Learn

  • Understand why asking about suicide can feel difficult, even for seasoned clinicians.
  • Identify internal and external barriers that affect suicide risk conversations.
  • Explore how stigma, fear, and personal bias can interfere with assessment.
  • Learn communication techniques that build safety, trust, and openness with patients.
  • Examine the emotional impact of this work and strategies for clinician self-care.
  • Discover how collaborative dialogue leads to better outcomes and stronger therapeutic relationships.

Learning Objectives

After viewing this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe factors that make suicide assessment emotionally challenging for clinicians.
  • Implement communication techniques that support openness and patient trust.
  • Integrate reflective strategies to manage discomfort and sustain empathy.

Who Should Watch

  • Mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, counselors, and therapists)
  • Emergency department clinicians
  • Primary care and behavioral health providers
  • Crisis response and community mental health professionals

Event Details

  • Date Recorded: October 24, 2025
  • Length: 60 minutes
  • Presenters: Doreen Marshall, PhD, and Roger Pottanat, MD
  • Availability: Free to watch anytime

Watch this free, on-demand session to explore the human side of suicide assessment—and learn how understanding discomfort can make every conversation safer, more effective, and more compassionate.

Topics Covered During This Training

  • The topic of suicide is far too frequently avoided, both in society and in clinical settings. From your perspective, why do you think that’s the case?
  • From your experience, what are some of the main reasons that patients hesitate to talk about suicidal thoughts?
  • What about clinicians? Why is it that even trained professionals struggle to address this topic?
  • Can you share any suggestions for normalizing the discomfort around these conversations?
  • When it comes to asking patients about thoughts of self-harm or suicide, how can health care professionals ask in a way that’s both compassionate and direct?
  • Have your patients ever mentioned health care workers using language that might have come off as either dismissive or minimizing?
  • Are there specific words or phrases that can help reduce stigma and encourage a patient’s openness?
  • Can you address the notion that asking directly about suicidality somehow increases risk? What does the research tell us about that?
  • Can you speak to concerns about suicide contagion, particularly after high-profile suicides?
  • What about more localized suicide contagion concerns when the situation is more personal, such as the loss of a classmate or a colleague?
  • We know that health care workers, even mental health professionals, also struggle with their mental health and can experience suicidal thoughts. Do you have any tips for how to approach a colleague about this without seeming like I’m challenging their health care expertise?
  • Can you suggest any specific strategies for clinicians who are afraid of saying the wrong thing?
  • Do you know of any resources for clinicians who may want to build confidence in suicide prevention conversations?
  • What is a key takeaway that you would like to share regarding those difficult conversations around suicide assessment and suicide awareness?

The information discussed is intended to be educational and should not be used as a substitute for guidance provided by your health care provider. Please consult with your treatment team before making any changes to your care plan.

Resources

You may also find this additional information useful:

About Doreen Marshall, PhD

Doreen Marshall, PhD, is CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association. Prior to joining NEDA, she served as vice president of Mission Engagement at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, where she led several national partnership initiatives and served as a clinical advisor on several national mental health communications campaigns.

About Roger Pottanat, MD

Roger Pottanat, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and serves as medical director of McLean Hospital’s 3East Residential Programs, which offer intensive dialectical behavior therapy for teens. He is passionate about providing comprehensive and novel treatment options to patients with challenging mental health disorders.

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