suicidepreventiontraining

Berrien Suicide Prevention Coalition Offers Training Overview This Week

suicidepreventiontraining

Did you know that Berrien County alone averages about 25 suicide deaths every year? That’s another suicide virtually every other week throughout the year. There are many among us who want everyone to know that suicide is preventable.

This coming Tuesday, January 16th, the monthly meeting for the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition (BCSPC) will feature trainers representing four suicide prevention and mental health awareness training programs who will deliver presentations on the subject.

One key component of suicide prevention is a community trained to detect the signs of mental health problems with the knowledge of how to help direct the person to the appropriate assistance. The goal of this training overview is to present pertinent information about four nationally-recognized training programs available in Berrien County:

  • Mental Health First Aid
  • ASIST
  • safeTALK
  • suicideTALK

The presenters will discuss topics covered, target audience, sponsors and developers, length, and cost of each of the programs.

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Terri Albers is a Community Health Specialist from Lakeland Health and part of the Community Health and Wellness program. She will provide an overview of Mental Health First Aid.

Melissa Rough is a Behavior Specialist at Niles Community Schools and a Master ASIST Trainer as well as a Certified Trauma Practitioner.  She will offer an overview of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).

Randy Miota is the Manager of Chaplaincy Services at Lakeland Health, and he will give an overview of both safeTALK and suicideTALK.

The public is invited to the overview scheduled for Tuesday, January 16, from noon unitl 1 pm, at the Berrien Conference Room at the Health Department located at 2149 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor. Those interested in suicide prevention and others such as counselors, law enforcement, medical personnel, and those in contact with persons in crisis are encouraged to attend.

The Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition is an advisory committee of Berrien Mental Health Authority (Riverwood Center). You can contact Trent Watford at 269-428-7226 or email him at trentwatford@gmail.com if you have questions about the presentation. For additional information on the Coalition, see their website at BerrienCares.org.