Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) can help you feel prepared to talk with people about means safety. 

Reducing access to lethal means, such as firearms and medication, can determine whether a person at risk for suicide lives or dies. This course is about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide—and their families—to reduce access.

This award-winning course earned the Bronze Digital Health and Omni awards in 2019.

Questions? Reach out to [email protected].

This course consists of six lessons and can be completed in approximately two hours. 

After the introduction, you'll complete six lessons on:

1. Why Does Reducing Access Make a Difference?
2. Who Needs Lethal Means Counseling
3. What are the Lethal Means?
4. What are Some Ways to Reduce Access?
5. How Should I Counsel Clients About Lethal Means?
6. What is the Plan?

You do not have to complete the course in one sitting. You can exit the course at any time and return later to the place where you left off.

This course is primarily designed for mental health professionals. 

Others who work with people at risk for suicide, such as health care providers and social service professionals, may also benefit.

This course has six learning objectives.    

• Explain that reducing access to lethal means is an evidence-based strategy for suicide prevention.
• Explain how reducing access to lethal means can prevent suicide.
• Identify clients for whom lethal means counseling is appropriate.
• Describe strategies for raising the topic of lethal means and feel more comfortable and competent applying these strategies with clients.
• Advise clients on specific off-site and in-home secure storage options for firearms and strategies to limit access to dangerous medications.
• Work with your clients and their families to develop a specific plan to reduce access to lethal means and follow up on the plan over time.

To receive a certificate of completion, you must do the following: 

• Complete each lesson
• Pass the post-test (passing score is 80% or higher
• Answer the feedback survey questions

This course is produced and maintained by Education Development Center (EDC). It builds upon earlier CALM training developed through EDC's partnership with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), with contributions from Catherine Barber, Elaine Frank, and other individuals and organizations involved in the development of the original training. EDC made updates to this course in September 2026.