Adapting suicide safety plans for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionAlthough risk for suicide appears elevated in individuals with intellectual and developmental disorders (I/DD), few interventions or tools addressing suicide prevention have been adapted for this population. Among evidence‐based interventions for preventing suicide, safety planning interventions are an effective and commonly employed intervention for reducing suicide‐related risk.MethodsBy drawing on Special Education praxis for supporting the learning needs of individuals with I/DD, we provide recommendations for adapting suicide safety planning interventions for youth with I/DD.ResultsSpecific visual, content, teaching, and communication components of the safety plan intervention can be adapted to better meet the needs of youth with I/DD.DiscussionAlthough future research is needed to evaluate these recommendations, these modifications may support clinicians serving youth with I/DD and suicide‐related risk.