A Suicide Awareness and Response Workshop

Research indicates that individuals contemplating suicide are looking for help and a way to escape their overwhelming emotional pain. When we know how to recognize warning signs and respond to a suicidal person, we can be a critical bridge between them and those who are able to provide the longer-term care they need.

This workshop offers information and tools for recognizing and responding to potentially suicidal individuals. Together, we examine our perceptions around suicide and challenge assumptions that may impact our effectiveness in intervening. We also review basic crisis intervention goals and practices, and learn strategies unique to suicide intervention. Reaching out to people who may be suicidal is personally challenging; this is true regardless of the nature of the relationship. Workshop participants will explore healthy boundaries and self-care as activities that ameliorate these challenges.
Workshops are half day (two to three hours) or a full day in length and include interactive activities, discussions and case studies.  Each workshop is tailored based on the participants’ learning objectives.  Key outcomes include:

• Recognizing that many suicides can be prevented;
• Identifying our beliefs about suicide and how they may impact interactions with someone at risk;
• Recognizing warning signs to watch and listen for;
• Identifying and exploring how to respond to an individual at risk, including identification of community resources and work place protocols;
• Determining personal and professional boundaries and responsibilities.

Please contact Lu Ripley at lripley@crisiscentre.bc.ca or 604-872-1811 to discuss how we can tailor a workshop to your organization’s needs.