Suicide is a major mental health problem in the United States and an issue
that significantly impacts the mental health treatment community. Although
the suicide rate remains relatively stable, the discipline of counseling ps
ychology has broadened in scope and work settings have diversified. Thus, c
ounseling psychology trainees are increasingly exposed to suicidal clients.
Despite this reality research suggests that comprehensive, systematic trai
ning in suicidology in counseling psychology programs rarely occurs. One re
ason for this slate of affairs may be that the suicide literature is spread
across a variety of disciplines, making it difficult for educators and pra
ctitioners to stay informed about the knowledge base in suicidology. The pu
rpose of this contribution, therefore, is to provide counseling psychology
educators and practitioners with an overview of the field of suicidology as
it applies to the training and practice of counseling psychology.