Would you like to know more about how to identify someone at risk for suicide? Would you like to know how to have a conversation with someone at risk for suicide? See below for some suggested training opportunities for working on these skills.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Workshop
The ASIST Workshop is a two-day training for any one interested in learning suicide intervention skills. The ASIST Workshop is a standardized learning experience using a common ‘language’ to help increase collaboration among care-giving groups. Workshops with heterogeneous groups are preferred. Because the workshop content is flexible, it can be presented to gatekeepers with varying levels of training in many different settings, ranging from community groups to groups from specific institution or work setting. For more information about ASIST log on to www.livingworks.net Contact the Missouri Department of Mental Health to find a certified ASIST Workshop Trainer.
(Adapted from the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Organizer’s Guide and LivingWorks Website)
Campus Connect: Syracuse University
The Campus Connect workshop, run out of the Counseling Center at Syracuse University, involves three hours of training for anyone on a campus community interested in learning suicide intervention skills. This training opportunity was specifically designed with the university population in mind. To learn more about the Campus Connect Program, go to http://counselingcenter.syr.edu/index.php/campus-connect/.
Question. Persuade. Refer. (QPR) Workshop
The QPR Workshop is a standardized 1-2 hour training for any one interested in learning suicide intervention skills. QPR is modeled after the CPR ‘chain of survival’ approach. After gatekeepers learn to recognize the early warning signs of suicide they can Question their (the suicidal person’s) meaning to determine suicide intent or desire, Persuade the person to accept or seek help, and Refer the person to appropriate resources. After the training, workshop participants receive a QPR booklet and wallet card as a review and resource tool that includes local referral resources. For more information about QPR, log on to www.qprinstitute.com/. Contact your local regional resource center in Missouri for information about free workshops.
(Adapted from the QPR Institute Website)
safeTALK: Suicide Alertness for Everyone
safeTALK is a 2.5-3.5 hour training program that teaches participants to be recognize and engage persons who might be having thoughts of suicide and to connect them with community resources trained in suicide intervention. SafeTALK stresses safety while challenging taboos that inhibit open talk about suicide. For more information visit the LivingWorks Website at http://www.livingworks.net
SOS: Signs of Suicide
SOS incorporates two prominent suicide prevention strategies into a single program, combining a curriculum that aims to raise awareness of suicide and its related issues with a brief screening for depression and other risk factors associated with suicidal behavior.
For more information log on to the Screening For Mental Health Website at http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org/schools/index.aspx.
Other Programs
There are also free online training courses available at: The National Center for Suicide Prevention Training Website (http://training.sprc.org/) and http://www.endingsuicide.com
(some information on this page has been taken from the website page from the Suicide Prevention Training Page on the Missouri Department of Mental Health: Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services)