Suicide Prevention Training

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that teaches the public how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Mental Health First Aid offers specialty modules in Higher Education, Military Members, Veterans & Their Families, Public Safety, Older Adults and Rural Communities.

Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) is a total of 4.5 hours, with either three 1.5-hour sessions, or six 45-minute sessions. It teaches teens in grades 10–12 or ages 15–18 how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers.

Youth Mental Health First Aid reviews the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents ages 12–18. The 8-hour course emphasizes the importance of early intervention and covers how to help and adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.

Natural Helpers of South Dakota trains middle and high school-aged students on ways they can help during difficult situations. These students are selected by their peers using an anonymous school-wide survey. Students are trained to recognize when they can help their peers and when to ask a trusted adult for help with issues beyond the student’s comfort level. This training can be provided in a virtual or in-person format — however, since this training requires a complete school day of 6.5-7 hours, it is strongly encouraged to facilitate this course in person. After the training, further instruction, education and support will be offered based on the needs of the school.

Safety Planning is used to provide people who are experiencing suicidal ideation with a specific set of concrete strategies that can decrease the risk of suicidal behavior. The safety plan includes coping strategies that may be used and individuals or agencies that may be contacted during a crisis. The Safety Planning Intervention is a collaborative effort between a treatment provider and a patient. For Safety Planning for Youth Suicide Prevention, enroll in this free, self-paced course designed for health, behavioral health and mental health clinicians as well as students in clinical training programs.

QPR is a 1- to 2-hour training that teaches three simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help.QPR offers specialty modules for School Health Professionals, Farmers, School Settings, Native Americans, Late Life Suicide, Residential, Law Enforcement & Emergency Service Professionals and Youth.

NAMI Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation that helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if you or a loved one are showing symptoms of a mental health condition.

The ASIST workshop is for anyone who wants to feel more comfortable, confident and competent in helping to prevent the immediate risk of suicide.

CALM is a free online course offered by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) designed for providers who counsel people at risk for suicide, including mental health and medical providers.

Means Safety is designed to help parents and adult caregivers of at-risk youth recognize the importance of taking immediate, new action to restrict access to firearms, alcohol and prescription and over-the-counter drugs in the home. The intervention also gives parents and caregivers specific, practical advice on how to dispose of or lock up firearms and substances that may be used in a suicide attempt.