Suicide Prevention Training
Suicide prevention training is exactly what it sounds like- expert-guided instruction on how to prevent suicide in yourself or someone else. By learning how to identify and respond to people at risk of suicide, we can obtain the knowledge and confidence needed to help prevent suicide and foster mental wellness. Despite being the second leading cause of death among children aged 10-14 and young adults aged 15-24, suicide is preventable with the proper training, resources, and support.
QPR Suicide Prevention Training is a renowned suicide prevention program designed to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. QPR stands for question, persuade, and refer- following these three simple steps can help prevent a suicide. An important aspect of QPR (as well as many other prevention trainings) is to understand the warning signs of suicide. The first step in helping someone at risk of suicide is realizing they need help.
Suicide prevention trainings that have been scientifically tested and proven to be effective are evidence-based prevention programs. Examples of evidence-based trainings include QPR and our very own SOS Signs of Suicide which has demonstrated a 64% reduction in self-reported suicide attempts. Sufficient research indicating a program’s success must exist for it to be deemed evidence-based.
Teens, (especially those aged 12-14), are more likely to confide in a peer than open up to a parent or teacher. Hence the need for suicide prevention training for teens- how can you help someone manage complex emotions if you’ve never been taught how to properly do so? Teaching teens to recognize and respond to suicidal behaviors in their peers is essential to reducing the number of deaths by suicide. Though this may sound obvious, as more people are trained to prevent suicide, more suicides will be prevented.
Suicide Prevention Training for Schools
Suicide prevention training for schools is a key element in keeping children and adolescents safe. School personnel are uniquely positioned to notice behavioral changes in students, as they interact with dozens of students every day and have a vested interest in their well-being. However, most staff don’t have the knowledge or confidence needed to help a student at-risk of suicide. Free suicide prevention training for social workers can increase knowledge and willingness for these school employees to intervene with at-risk students.
Online suicide prevention training for teachers is one of the most effective methods of closing the knowledge gap. Suicide prevention training for counselors is also of the utmost importance. Both teachers and counselors, as well as all other school personnel, can learn essential suicide prevention skills via our SOS for School Staff program. SOS for School Staff is a one-hour, self-guided professional development course for adults that uses video and interactive learning to teach staff how to help students at-risk through the ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) framework. The program gives every adult in your school the confidence and skills to support students at risk.
Free suicide prevention training is often optimal for schools with a tight budget. There’s nothing more important than the safety of your students, but we understand money can sometimes be a barrier to receiving suicide prevention training. The Zero Suicide Alliance offers free suicide prevention training for teachers and free suicide prevention training for counselors that can provide faculty and staff with the best practices for helping students stay safe.
Suicide Prevention Training Online
If you aren’t sure how to start formulating a plan to keep your students safe, try looking for suicide prevention resources online. It’s likely you’ll be able to find a suicide prevention training PowerPoint or a different suicide prevention training pdf. Many of MindWise’s programs, including SOS for Middle and High Schools, include pdfs. These tools can help save lives, as pdfs are easy to download and can often be shared without difficulty. Start your search for suicide prevention assets today.
Finding free suicide prevention trainings for nurses provides an extra layer of support for everyone in their hospital, school, or organization. Nurses at schools are constantly interacting with children and teens. If they are able to learn how to spot the signs of suicide in youth and understand how to provide the proper support, they can help stop crises before they occur.
Free suicide trainings for mental health professionals are an ideal way for therapists and counselors to improve the quality of their practice. And the free suicide prevention training certificate you often receive demonstrates your proficiency and makes the perfect wall adornment. Many mental health professionals haven’t received adequate suicide prevention training, and free online resources are a fantastic method of obtaining this crucial knowledge. You can never learn too much about suicide prevention.
It’s important to note that free trainings for suicide prevention are not your only option. MindWise offers a variety of potentially life-saving trainings, ranging from fostering resilience to postvention and more.
1 Hour Suicide Prevention Training
Although receiving training for suicide prevention is of the utmost importance, many individuals who would benefit from that knowledge (such as teachers and healthcare professionals) are often overwhelmed and struggle to find the time. Thankfully 1 hour suicide prevention training is available online, and people can take these courses at their own convenience. Asynchronous suicide prevention programming continues to grow in popularity due to its accessibility. If you are looking for QPR training online, it might be beneficial to find a course that your staff can take on their own time. This decision will likely increase the number of people that receive this potentially life-saving training.
However, it’s possible that you believe one hour is not sufficient for proper suicide prevention training. With the rise of youth suicide continuing, you may want to spend more time on such an important subject. 2 hour suicide prevention training is also available, as are full-day courses and other lengthier programs. Suicide prevention training exists in many forms, ranging in price, length, complexity, and delivery method. With the right amount of research, you can find the suicide prevention training that is best for you and your organization.
Start your search today with MindWise’s Digital Training Hub and browse our collection of expert-driven trainings. If you are interested in more information about our offerings, don’t hesitate to complete this “Contact Us” form. A member of the MindWise team will respond to your query as soon as possible.
QPR Training
QPR Training is one of the most popular forms of suicide prevention education. Broken down into three important steps (question, persuade, respond,), this training teaches people how to recognize the signs of suicide in a friend or family member and help them connect to the supports they need. Just like CPR, QPR is a crisis response that can save lives. If QPR training becomes as prevalent as CPR, the amount of suicide crises can be reduced and mental health stigma can be diminished. Learn how to save a life with this QPR booklet pdf.
As previously stated, the “Q” in QPR stands for “question”. But what are the best QPR questions to ask someone in crisis? Experts recommend the following prompts if it is unclear whether the person struggling is suicidal:
• “Has anyone in your family ever threatened, made an attempt or completed a suicide?”
• “Have you ever experienced thoughts of death or suicide?”
• “You know, when people are as upset as you seem to be, they sometimes wish they were dead. I’m wondering if you’re feeling that way too?”
• “With all you’re going through, have you experienced thoughts of harming or even killing yourself?”
• “Are you thinking about killing yourself?”
There are other ways to ask if a person is suicidal, but it’s important to avoid saying, “You’re not thinking of suicide, are you?” This frames the question in a manner that demands a negative reply and the person may decide to “protect” you from what they are truly planning to do.
Searching “QPR training online free” in Google or another search engine will likely result in the training you are looking for. It’s that easy to find suicide prevention programming. Many of these programs award participants a QPR training certificate which can be proudly displayed in a classroom or office.
Suicide Risk Assessment
Suicide risk assessment is the process of estimating the likelihood for a person to attempt or die by suicide. The objective of this comprehensive assessment is to understand the circumstances of an individual person with regard to suicide, including warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors.
Depression screening can help identify at-risk individuals and connect them to the support they need. Additionally, screens help teach people the warning signs of suicide. Learning these signs can help you recognize when a friend or family member is distressed and needs support. Understanding depression risk factors can help save lives as well.
