Frequently Asked Questions

CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) is a suicide-specific clinical framework developed by Professor David A. Jobes. It is used to engage with individuals experiencing suicidal ideation or behaviours through a structured, collaborative process.

The adoption of CAMS in the UK was advocated for by Professor Zaffer Iqbal, who recognised its value in strengthening suicide-specific care within NHS and allied settings.

CAMS-care UK delivers training to help clinicians understand the underlying drivers of suicidality, and co-develop treatment and safety plans that are practical, individualised and evidence-based.

CAMS is not a standardised risk assessment or screening tool for suicidality. It is a therapeutic framework that supports an ongoing, collaborative conversation with the person in crisis.

Key differences include:

• A focus on the drivers of suicidality
• Use of the Suicide Status Form (SSF) to guide assessment, formulation and care planning
• Emphasis on clinical judgement, therapeutic alliance and shared understanding
• Adaptability across a wide range of settings and professions – including those without psychology-specific training

Yes. CAMS can be integrated into services that use other models such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It works as a suicide-specific enhancement to general care pathways and supports safer, more targeted engagement with individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.

Yes. While in-person role-play training is highly valued—and recommended in certain circumstances—CAMS training can be delivered entirely online, including the role-play components. This flexible format enables wider adoption of the framework across the UK and supports teams with varying availability.

We use supported virtual breakout rooms to facilitate structured and interactive role-play practice. The online format maintains clinical depth and engagement, with content, structure, and supervisory support remaining consistent across both virtual and in-person delivery.

No. For quality and effectiveness of the CAMS treatment, a Train-the-Trainer program is not authorised for the use of CAMS. CAMS-care UK is dedicated to adherence to the CAMS evidence-base.

All CAMS-care UK trainers have worked extensively with Dr. Jobes and receive regular updates to apply the latest CAMS research to the training. While this may be acceptable for some types of training, when dealing with the management and treatment of suicide risk it is not.

Yes. CAMS is fully aligned with NICE suicide prevention guidance, as well as NHS England’s 2025 Staying Safe from Suicide guidance. Both emphasise:

• Person-centred care
• Collaborative, dynamic safety planning
• Avoiding reliance on static risk prediction
• Building therapeutic alliance to support engagement and recovery

The process is structured but flexible:

1. Read Managing Suicide Risk: A Collaborative Approach by Professor David A. Jobes
2. Complete a four-hour on-demand video course with live demonstrations (60-day access)
3. Attend a one-day interactive training with case-based role play
4. Join four supervision calls to support implementation in real cases

All steps are CPD-eligible and designed for both individuals and teams.

The Suicide Status Form (SSF) is used as both a clinical guide and a documentation tool. It provides a clear structure for assessing risk, recording clinical decisions, tracking changes over time, and supporting transitions in care. Many clinicians find that it improves the quality, consistency and defensibility of their documentation.

We have created a number of electronic versions of the SSF that can be used with electronic health records. Please contact us for more details. We ask that you do not create your own template.

The CAMS training pathway begins with two self-paced learning modules. Step three — an interactive role-play session — is scheduled based on your availability and the CAMS-care UK consultant training calendar.

The final stage includes supervision calls spaced over 2 to 3 months, allowing time to apply the framework in practice and reflect on your experience. Participants could complete all steps within approximately 3 months, but we encourage you to speak with our team to tailor the timeline to your specific goals and service needs. 

Yes. CAMS is a worldwide extensively studied suicide-specific intervention. Clinical trials and real-world studies consistently show that CAMS:

• Reduces suicidal ideation and distress 
• Increases hope and engagement with care
• Is well received by service users [link to testimonials] 
• May reduce emergency presentations and suicide attempts in certain groups

CAMS is backed by multiple peer-reviewed Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) and over 30 years of clinical use.

CAMS-care UK is looking to develop a peer network for trained clinicians to connect, reflect, share insights and support continued learning and quality improvement. If you have thoughts about how networking and connection may work best for you, please let us know.

Yes, we have many organisations that opt to complete foundational training in CAMS by having staff read the book, take the online course, and attend a series of supervision calls. We have also split our online role play training into half-day sessions to fit with the needs of organisations. 

Please get in touch with the CAMS team to discuss the options available.

You can:

• Explore CAMS training
• Contact the CAMS-care UK team
• Sign up for updates and training alerts
• Follow us on LinkedIn 

If you have a specific question or would like to speak to a member of the team, we would be happy to help.

CAMS is used across NHS, third sector, education and private settings by a wide range of professionals, including:

• Mental health nurses
• Psychologists
• Social workers
• Student counsellors
• Psychotherapists
• Support workers 
• Multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs)

It is suitable for both specialist and non-specialist services working with individuals experiencing suicidality.