Abstract
Globally, there are more than 700,000 suicide completions every year. With the continued shortage of mental health professionals, people are increasingly seeking care for mental health concerns in primary care settings. With the expansion of telehealth since the COVID-19 pandemic, more patients and providers are connecting virtually for appointments and are increasingly familiar with asynchronous tools to connect outside of appointments. Practitioners in primary care settings have an important role in identifying and mitigating risk of suicide regardless of the treatment modality. Utilization of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model for suicidal patients is both necessary and feasible in the current hybrid healthcare environment. This manuscript addresses the practical and procedural considerations for assessing for suicide and developing effective safety planning interventions when using telehealth as part of care.