STEPS CAMERA
The document presents the Advanced Professional Certificate "Core STEPS for Suicide Prevention," a pioneering six‑month training program jointly developed by Progress Guide Australia and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. The curriculum integrates three core components of the PROTECT Framework – the foundational PROTECT model, the dynamic STEPS model, and the SAFE framework – into a unified AIMS process (Assessment, Intervention, Monitoring, Step‑Up/Step‑Down). The STEPS model is described metaphorically as a high‑performance camera that captures a person’s suicidality across four dimensions: current stage, source of emotional pain, risk span and fluctuation, and future trajectory. Thirteen established psychological models of suicidality (e.g., Stress‑Vulnerability, Shneidman’s Cube, Beck’s Cognitive Triad, Joiner’s Interpersonal‑Psychological Theory, Fluid Vulnerability Theory, Cusp Catastrophe Model, etc.) are presented as interchangeable lenses that clinicians can apply to tailor assessment and intervention. The document details how each model contributes uniquely to understanding predisposition, motivation, and volition phases of suicidality. It outlines the AIMS framework, emphasizing precise, compassionate assessment, individualized safety‑planning interventions, continuous monitoring, and calibrated step‑up/step‑down decisions. The program includes immersive case studies, role‑plays, reflective debriefings, and supervised practical modules. Six modules are listed with credit allocations, dates, delivery modes (online, face‑to‑face, practical supervision), and a total of 20 credit hours. Eligibility criteria, language of instruction, fees (RM7500 after discount), registration deadline, and contact details are provided. The course is mentored by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manaan Kar Ray, a consultant psychiatrist and suicide‑prevention expert, and is certified by UPSI and Progress Guide Australia. The overall tone is instructional and persuasive, positioning the certificate as a comprehensive, evidence‑based, and practice‑oriented pathway for mental‑health professionals to acquire advanced skills in suicide risk assessment and management.
Topics
Integrated CORE STEPS Curriculum: Merging PROTECT, STEPS, and SAFE
Explanation of how the three components of the PROTECT Framework—PROTECT (foundational knowledge), STEPS (progression model), and SAFE (recovery‑oriented risk management)—are combined into a unified curriculum.
STEPS Model as a High‑Performance Camera
Metaphorical framing of the STEPS model as a camera that captures a person’s suicidality across stage, pain source, risk span, and future trajectory.
Thirteen Psychological Lenses: Model‑by‑Model Contributions
Overview of the 13 suicide‑risk models (Stress‑Vulnerability, Stress‑Diathesis, Shneidman’s Cube, Beck’s Cognitive Triad, Baumeister’s Escape Theory, Linehan’s Reasons for Living/Dying, Williams’ Cry of Pain, Van Orden’s Taxonomy, Joiner’s IPT, Klonsky’s Three‑Step Theory, Integrated Motivational‑Volitional Model, Fluid Vulnerability Theory, Cusp Catastrophe Model) and how each serves as a distinct lens for assessment and intervention.
AIMS Framework: Assessment, Intervention, Monitoring, Step‑Up/Step‑Down
Detailed description of the four‑phase process that structures clinical work using the STEPS model and the 13 lenses, emphasizing precise assessment, individualized safety planning, ongoing monitoring, and calibrated escalation or de‑escalation of care.
Practical Training Components: Case Studies, Role‑Plays, and Supervision
Explanation of the experiential learning methods—immersive case studies, interactive role‑plays, reflective debriefings, and supervised practical modules—that translate theory into clinical competence.
Course Structure, Modules, Credits, and Schedule
Breakdown of the six modules, credit allocation (total 20 credits), dates (02 June 2025 – 16 Nov 2025), delivery modes (online, face‑to‑face, practical supervision), and overall program duration.
Eligibility, Language, Delivery Mode, and Fees
Target audience (mental‑health professionals, medical staff, educators, volunteers), bilingual instruction (English & Bahasa Malaysia), full‑time/online/face‑to‑face options, fee structure (RM7500 after discount) and payment options.
Mentorship and Certification by Dr. Manaan Kar Ray and UPSI
Highlight of the program’s mentorship by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manaan Kar Ray, his credentials, and the dual certification by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and Progress Guide Australia.