The Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) is one of a handful of evidence-based, suicide-focused treatments referenced by the Joint Commission, the Surgeon General, Zero Suicide and the CDC. CAMS is backed by over 30 years of clinical research including 6 published Randomized Controlled Trials and two meta-analysis that show CAMS is a “Well Supported” intervention for reducing suicidal ideation per CDC criteria, and, in comparison to alternative interventions, resulted in significantly lower suicidal ideation and general distress, considerably higher treatment acceptability, and notably higher hope/lower hopelessness. The goal of CAMS is to treat the patient in an outpatient or telehealth setting and stabilize them in as few as 6 sessions. CAMS is shown to work best with the largest population, the 15 million Americans with serious thoughts of suicide.

The CAMS Framework® is first and foremost a clinical philosophy of care. It is a therapeutic framework for suicide-focused assessment and treatment of a patient’s self-defined “drivers” which are those issues that make them consider suicide. It is a flexible approach that can be used across theoretical orientations and disciplines for a wide range of suicidal patients across treatment settings and different treatment modalities.

The clinician and patient engage in a highly interactive and patient centered assessment process as the patient is an active participant in their own suicide-focused treatment plan. Every session of CAMS intentionally utilizes the patient’s input about what is and is not working. All assessment work in CAMS is collaborative; we seek to have the patient be a “co-author” of their own treatment plan.

In terms of CAMS philosophy, the clinician’s empathy, collaboration, honesty and forthrightness are key elements. For any patient teetering between life and death, there can be no more important component of care than direct and respectful candor when suicidal risk is present. The CAMS clinician endeavors to understand their patient’s suffering from an empathetic, non-judgmental, and intra-subjective perspective. The clinician never shames or blames a suicidal person for being suicidal; we endeavor to understand this struggle through the eyes of the suicidal patient.

Research shows that clinicians feel more confident using CAMS and prefer it to usual care. It is relatively easy to learn and affordable.