Suicide Prevention Training Resources
Why do you need to know about suicide prevention training? Because no matter what your age is or how you spend your days, you are likely to be in school, have a job, or be involved in some kind of organization or community group. We all have a role to play in suicide prevention.
Sometimes the hardest part of developing a suicide prevention plan is sifting through all of the resources that are available. First you have to decide what you need. Then start looking at what’s out there.
There’s no need to re-invent the wheel. Others have already done the work. You just need to put it together.
State Resources
Find out what your state already has in place that you can tap into.
Every state has some form of suicide prevention training or awareness program available. To find out what your state is doing or who to contact, check here.
School Resources
Look at the resources that leaders in the suicide prevention movement provide for schools. Why schools? We know that suicidal ideation can start as early as age 10. Since children spend so much time in school, it makes sense to start working on suicide prevention by training teachers, staff, and parents.
Founded on research, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) developed evidence-based programs using the latest science on suicide prevention. AFSP offers several resources for schools. Detailed descriptions here.
The American Association of Suicidology offers a School Suicide Prevention Accreditation Program for school personnel who serve as suicide prevention specialists. For school psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, and all others dedicated to or responsible for reducing the incidence of suicide and suicidal behaviors among today's school-age youth.
To learn more about suicide prevention for schools, read A Culture of Caring; A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K-12)
General Resources
Not involved in schools or with kids? Look for resources for other groups.
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is devoted to advancing the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. They provide training not only for schools, but also for many other groups.
American Indian/Alaska Native Settings
A
Culture of Caring: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K-12) was
created as a resource for educators who want to know how to get started and
what steps to take to create a suicide prevention plan that will work for their
schools and districts. It is written from my perspective as a school principal
and survivor of suicide loss, not an expert in psychology or counseling. I hope
that any teacher, school counselor, psychologist, principal, or district
administrator can pick up this book, flip to a chapter, and easily find helpful
answers to the questions they are likely to have about what schools can do to
prevent suicide.
