Suicide Prevention Training Lloyd B. Potter PhD, MPH Director Suicide Prevention Resource Center November 2, 2006 Adelaide.

Suicide Prevention Training

Lloyd B. Potter PhD, MPHDirector

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

November 2, 2006 Adelaide

TopicsTopics

A community approach to prevention

Training as one aspect of prevention

Gatekeeper training Rationale and Logic

Common gatekeeper programs

Issues for gatekeeper programs

Society

Community

Family/Peers

Spheres of influence on risk for suicidal behavior

Individual

NAMI New Hampshire - FrameworksNAMI New Hampshire - Frameworks

Gatekeepers Schools/Education Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Providers Emergency Medical Services Emergency Departments Law Enforcement Dispatch

Cultural CompetenceJudiciarySocial Service AgenciesTeens/StudentsPrimary Care ProvidersCommunity CoordinatorFuneral DirectorsClergy

PROTOCOLS DEVELOPED FOR:

www.NAMINH.org

Programs for the Prevention of Suicide Among Adolescents and Young Adults

School gatekeeper training

Community gatekeeper training

General suicide education

Screening programs

Peer support programs

CDC. Youth Suicide Prevention Programs: A Resource Guide. 1992.

Programs for the Prevention of Suicide Among Programs for the Prevention of Suicide Among Adolescents and Young Adults (continued)Adolescents and Young Adults (continued)

Crisis Centers and hotlines

Restriction of access to lethal means

Intervention after a suicide

CDC. Youth Suicide Prevention Programs: A Resource Guide. 1992.

SPRC Training InstituteSPRC Training Institute

Strategic Planning for Suicide Prevention

Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (3 versions)

First Responder Curriculum (forthcoming)

Online workshops Locating, Understanding, and Presenting Youth Suicide Data

Planning and Evaluation for Youth Suicide Prevention

Youth Suicide Prevention: An Introduction to Gatekeeping

3 more forthcoming

Training for clergy (planned)

Rationale for Gatekeeper TrainingRationale for Gatekeeper Training

Suicide does not usually occur spontaneously. There often is time to intervene.

Gatekeeping is a process in which caring individuals recognize the potential for risk behaviors in others and take action to insure that people at-risk receive the help they need.

GatekeeperGatekeeper

Gatekeepers must have: command of the basic facts about suicide and of

suicidal behavior

the personal confidence and specific skills needed to recognize and respond to a person who may be at-risk of suicide

the ability to appropriately interact, support, and assist family and friends in the aftermath of an attempted or completed suicide

Program Logic ModelProgram Logic ModelTrain Gatekeeper TrainersTrain Gatekeeper Trainers

Inputs Activities Outputs OutcomesResources•money

•staff

•volunteers

•facilities

•equipment &supplies

Constraints•laws

•regulations

•funding

Services•train trainers to train gatekeepers

Products• number trainers trained

Results• trainers train gatekeepers

• more persons at risk identified

• more referrals for MH care

• MH care results in reduced-risk

• fewer suicide attempts and completions

Program Logic ModelProgram Logic ModelTrain GatekeepersTrain Gatekeepers

Inputs Activities Outputs OutcomesResources•money

•staff

•volunteers

•facilities

•equipment &supplies

Constraints•laws

•regulations

•funding

Services•train gatekeepers

Products• number trained

Results• more persons at risk identified

• more referrals for MH care

• MH care results in reduced-risk

• fewer suicide attempts and completions

Valid program outcomesValid program outcomes

Evaluation to include measurable results:

Direct suicide factors-decrease in suicides & attempts

Suicide ideation

Related suicide factors- decrease in depression, stress & anger

Protective factors- increase in personal control, self- esteem, social support & problem solving

Eggert L, Thompson E, Reducing Suicide Potential Among High Risk Youths: Tests of School-based Prevention Program

Gatekeeper TrainingGatekeeper Training

For school personnel: Livingworks/ASSIST

Project SOAR (Suicide, Options, Awareness, Relief)

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)

Reconnecting Youth

For students: Yellow Ribbon (uses QPR)

Natural Helpers Peer Navigators/New Mexico

SOS (Signs of Suicide )

SuicideTALK: An exploration in suicide awareness (1.5–2 hours) provides a structure in which session members can safely explore some of the most challenging attitudinal issues about suicide, and encourages every member to find a part that they can play in preventing suicide.

safeTALK: suicide alertness for everyone (2.5–3 hours or full day 7 hours) ability to recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and know how to connect them with a person trained in suicide first aid intervention.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) (14 hours) For caregivers who want to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.

Training for Trainers (T4T) (Five days) Prepares local resource persons to be trainers of the ASIST workshop.

Source: www.livingworks.org

LivingWorks ProgramsLivingWorks Programs

As a QPR-trained Gatekeeper you will learn to: recognize the warning signs of suicide

know how to offer hope

know how to get help and save a life

WHAT YOU CAN DO… •Become a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor. On site training and through a self-study program. •To locate a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Instructor in your area. •Learn QPR through out web-enabled interactive CD-ROM program.

Source: www.qprinstitute.com

QPRQPR

QPR CornerstonesQPR Cornerstones

The four cornerstones of the theory upon which the QPR approach is derived are these: Those who most need help in a suicidal crisis are the least

likely to ask for it.

The person most likely to prevent you from dying by suicide is someone you already know.

Prior to making a suicide attempt, those in a suicidal crisis are likely to send warning signs of their distress and suicidal intent to those around them.

When we solve the problems people kill themselves to solve, the reasons for suicide disappear.

Source: www.qprinstitute.com

YELLOW RIBBON INT'L SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM

Promote and Raise awareness of suicide prevention in a community

Provide outreach to those at risk of suicide    Educate people to be Gatekeepers, such as school staff (certified and classified), parents, peers, elders and the community to recognize suicidal behaviors in youth and adults. 

Respond effectively and knowledgably in a suicidal crisis 

Offer support to friends and family of suicide victims. 

Source: www.yellowribon.org

Maine Gatekeeper Training ProgramMaine Gatekeeper Training Program

Free materials

Background about risk and protective factors

Responding to a person at risk:1. Show You Care

2. Ask About Suicide

3. Get Help

Support of family members

Building school readiness

Responding to a completed suicide

Source: www.state.me.us/suicide

Gatekeeper training issuesGatekeeper training issues

Intensity, content, learning objectives

Skill building practice / role playing

Pre-post measures for persons trained

Expectations and record keeping for and about gatekeepers

Gatekeeper training issuesGatekeeper training issues

Exposure of gatekeepers to at-risk individuals

Subjective assessment of risk dependent on exposure to gatekeeper

Difficulty causally tying gatekeeper actions to therapeutic follow-through or prevention of suicidal behavior

Limitations in scope of Limitations in scope of programsprograms

Inadequate links to mental health services

Programs for alcohol and drug abuse, HIV and other risk factors rarely make formal ties with suicide prevention

Reach youth not enrolled in school

(CDC Youth Suicide Prevention Programs: A Resource Guide,1992)

Contact us at:

www.sprc.org

[email protected]

1-877-GET-SPRC