Presenter Profile
Ashley Blanchard, MD, MS
Columbia University Medical Center
New York-Presbyterian | Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Dr. Ashley Blanchard is a pediatric emergency room physician and Assistant Professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She completed her residency in pediatrics and fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. During her clinical training she obtained a Masters in Biostatistics and Patient Oriented Research at Columbia Mailman school of Public Health. Her research focuses on prevention of pediatric injuries and deaths within the high-risk populations she treats in the emergency room. She has a specific interest in suicide and gun violence prevention. Her current work aims to use mobile health technology to reduce adolescent access to lethal means and prevent adolescent suicide. She is currently completing a pilot study investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based lethal means counselling decision aid for parents of adolescents presenting to the emergency department for self-harm or suicidality. Dr. Blanchard also serves as faculty in the Columbia Scientific Union for the Reduction of Gun Violence (SURGE). She also works with the Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention investigating the unique risks injuries among people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Presentations
Lethal Means Counseling – State of the research and best practices
Lethal means counseling is one of the few suicide prevention interventions found to decrease suicides. It is based on the concept that reducing access to lethal means of suicide during a time of vulnerability can prevent suicide by decreasing the lethality of attempts. This is of critical importance in adolescence, when the transition from ideation to action is often sudden and unplanned, using the most readily available method to attempt suicide. Data shows that lethal means counseling by providers is acceptable and has potential to affect home access or storage of lethal means.
This workshop will review the existing literature, the JACHO requirements, current applications, and research gaps related to lethal means counseling in the clinical environment. Facilitators will offer an overview of lethal means counseling and discuss relevant studies in the introduction. We will present various screens that can be used in the clinical setting and what interventions are available when patients or parents report access to lethal means.
During break out sessions our question guide will prompt discussion of topics including: -How your institutions conducts lethal means counseling -Under ideal circumstances how would your institution conduct lethal means counseling -What are the limitations to LMC at your institution? We will wrap up with important resources for doing lethal means counseling, including specific trainings and screenings available.