The Oakland County Suicide Prevention Task Force can connect to and also offer a variety of suicide prevention, awareness, intervention and means reduction trainings. Training options are listed below.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. ($29.95)*
safeTALK**
safeTALK half day alertness training that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper and connect those with thoughts of suicide to further help.
Suicide Prevention 101
Suicide Prevention 101 is a 60 minute presentation developed by the Oakland County Suicide Prevention Task Force for anyone high school-aged or older. Objectives for this presentation include reviewing facts about mental health and suicide, learning warning signs of suicide, and sharing basic techniques to have conversations about suicide. Participants will also receive a list of Oakland County mental health resources. The presentation can be adapted for specific populations.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
*The Task Force is not affiliated with QPR and does not cover the cost of this training.
**safeTALK training must be facilitated in-person
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
ASIST is an in-person only, two-day training for anyone 16 or older - regardless of prior experience - who wants to provide suicide first aid. ASIST teaches effective intervention skills, helps build suicide prevention networks in the community, and major studies have shown it to significantly reduce suicidality.
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)
CALM is a free, online course about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide - and their families - to reduce access.
SOS Signs of Suicide
Middle School Program
Designed for students in grades 6-8, SOS Signs of Suicide for middle school teaches students how to identify the signs of depression and suicide in themselves and their peers. SOS's evidence-based student training takes just one class period.
High School Program
Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) through a video, guided discussion, and brief screening for depression when worried about themselves or a friend. SOS takes just one class period and has shown a 64% reduction in self-reported suicide attempts.
SOS Signs of Suicide is available to schools upon request. There is a cost associated with these trainings. Discussions can occur on a case by case basis to determine the best way to implement and fund these trainings.