Suicide Prevention Training and Resources (Risha)
The first time a close friend of mine brought up thoughts of suicide, I was in middle school. I didn’t know what to do or say. My gut reaction was to panic, and I nervously tried to brush the subject off, hoping it was just a joke. I mean, they couldn’t be serious, right? The more I thought about it, the more anxious I became. I wanted to help them, but I didn’t know what to do. I had never experienced this before. Even years later, with a degree in psychology and much more exposure and training in the field of mental health, I can find myself paralyzed when the topic of suicide comes up in conversation. Although I am educated and passionate about suicide prevention, it’s still a heavy thing to hear and act on. However, taking several courses on suicide prevention training has helped me feel more confident and knowledgeable on how to help those experiencing suicidal ideation. Instead of shying away, I am now able to have conversations with people about how they are feeling and connect them to life-saving resources.
When someone brings up feelings of suicide, it can be hard to know how to react. Suicide is such an important topic, and you will likely feel immense pressure to do and say the right things. Suicide prevention training can help provide you with the knowledge and mindset to more effectively address mental health emergencies such as suicide. If you are someone who cares deeply about mental health, and I assume as a LAD reader you are, I think suicide prevention training is of immense value.
I would like to put a huge disclaimer before listing resources that attending suicide prevention training will NOT make you a mental health professional! Just like how being CPR certified will not make you a doctor, having suicide prevention training is not a stand-in for the training required of a licensed mental health clinician. Rather, like giving CPR, your job as someone with suicide prevention training is to provide support to someone experiencing a mental health crisis while waiting or connecting them to professional help. Your training gives you no authority to diagnose, treat, or give medical advice. Leave that to the professionals. With that out of the way, here are some FREE trainings and resources.
Trainings:
QPR Institute: Suicide Prevention Training Video
The QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Institute is an organization dedicated to providing suicide prevention training and resources to professionals and non-professionals alike. Their one-hour Suicide Prevention Training is free online via YouTube. They also host in-personal and online interactive trainings through their site for specific demographics and on specialized topics.
PsychAmore Institute: Firearms and Suicide in the Military
The PsychAmore Institute provides resources and education to help improve the lives of Veterans, including a better understanding of challenges Veterans face, such as mental health. This free online training provides training on how to help prevent suicides through firearms safety. While the training is specific to Veterans and clinicians, it can be used in other settings to provide safety for those with access to firearms and suicidal ideation.
Zero Suicide: Accessing Lethal Means and Preventing Suicide in Emergency Departments Trainings
Zero Suicide, as the name suggests, has the goal of eliminating suicide through creating trainings and modules that help decrease suicides. They offer two free trainings. The first is Counseling on Access to Lethal Means, which helps you have conversations with suicidal people and their families on reducing access to lethal means. The second is Preventing Suicide in Emergency Departments, which helps you screen and converse with patients in emergency department settings. While designed for clinicians, these trainings are open to and valuable for anyone.
Resources:
The CDC, has a long list of resources specific to those experiencing suicidal thoughts, as well as those supporting them.
988 is the national suicide and mental health crisis line. If you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, please call or text 24/7. Assistance is available in English and Spanish.