The surge of adolescents in suicidal crisis demands not only rapid intervention but also strong caregiver engagement to ensure safety and recovery. Many caregivers experience services as fragmented, inaccessible, and insufficient, particularly during and after a suicide crisis.  Despite being key partners in maintaining safety at home, caregivers often feel excluded from treatment planning and unsupported in navigating their child’s care. Caregivers are uniquely positioned to provide valuable insights into the mental health system to improve suicide prevention and intervention. Their perspectives can particularly strengthen the support available to caregivers within these systems. A firsthand account from a caregiver will offer context for the value of three caregiver focused initiatives: A caregiver advocacy group, a brief psychoeducation group for caregivers of youth with elevated suicidal risk and tools to engage caregivers in mental health safety planning. This workshop will include reflection on caregiver engagement in your agency.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand common caregiver concerns and barriers to being involved in youth mental health care.

2. Explore strategies and examples for meaningfully engaging caregivers throughout the care journey.

3. Reflect on current approaches to caregiver engagement within your own organization and identify gaps and opportunities.

4. Identify at least one actionable change your organization can implement to strengthen caregiver engagement and support.