Developing and supporting the members of the workforce and community through targeted training is an important suicide prevention strategy for the Reach UR Life program. This strategy includes: training and supporting identified workforces and groups that can provide quality and compassionate care to people at risk or affected by suicide, increasing opportunities for participation in evidence-based training, and reducing suicidal behaviors and impacts.
The workforce training plan is based on training needs and requirements for school personnel, youth care workers, clinicians, mental and behavioral health providers, therapists, and other caregivers or providers. Additionally, training needs will focus on primary suicide prevention and postvention activities, and promote wellbeing and self-care. The trainings will also involve cultural understanding and considerations that are sensitive and responsive to the needs of priority population groups. Some examples of training programs include Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Suicide Prevention, Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), Mental Health First Aid, Motivational Interviewing, Suicide Bereavement Clinician Training Program, Trauma Informed Care, and much more.
The Reach UR Life program is pleased to announce gatekeeper suicide prevention trainings for schools, youth-serving organizations, and communities at-large. A “gatekeeper” in suicide prevention is someone who has contact with many members of the community as part of their usual routine. They are strategically positioned to recognize and refer someone at risk of suicide.
The gatekeeper training programs include the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), safeTALK (Suicide Alertness for Everyone – TELL, ASK, LISTEN, KEEPSAFE), and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR). These trainings are evidence-based and nationally-recognized programs, and require no formal or prior experience in suicide prevention. The ASIST is a two-day interaction workshop for participants who want to feel comfortable, confident, and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Participants who complete the safeTALK training will become suicide alert helpers, have the ability to recognize a person at risk of suicide, and know how to connect them with a person trained in suicide first-aid intervention. QPR participants learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and utilize three steps to keep someone safe from suicide. The steps are: Question a person about suicidal thoughts, Persuade them to seek help, and Refer them to appropriate professional services.
The ASIST and safeTALK trainings are conducted in-person only. The 1-hour QPR program is available through online, virtual, and live training formats.
There is NO COST to attend and participate in the workforce and gatekeeper trainings.
