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Suicide Prevention

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Discover an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in your community. Learn about upcoming suicide prevention trainings right here in Carbon County. Gain the knowledge and skills needed to support those in crisis and contribute to a safer, more compassionate society.

CALM: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means

Developed by Elaine Frank and Mark Ciocca, Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) is a roughly 2-hour workshop designed to help providers implement counseling strategies to help clients at risk for suicide and their families’ ability to reduce access to lethal means, particularly (but not exclusively) firearms. It includes a number of components:

  • background on suicide data and lethal means
  • an introduction to firearms
  • a video presentation that models the counseling strategy
  • a presentation and discussion on conducting a counseling session
  • optional role plays
  • a course evaluation.

A typical 90-minute training agenda includes:

  • The problem: youth suicide and access to lethal means
  • Negotiation of means restriction (video presentation)
  • Conducting a family firearms assessment
  • Wrap-up and evaluation

The CALM program has developed over time with the aid of initial funding from the Suicide Prevention Partnership/Gutin Family Foundation and in collaboration with Means Matter, a project of the Harvard Injury Control Research Center. It has benefited from evaluations received from many different audiences in a variety of states.

If you are interested in a CALM workshop please get in touch with Tracy Young.

QPR Training

Question

Persuade

Refer

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver 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. Every year, thousands of Americans are saying “yes” to saving the life of a friend, colleague, family member, or neighbor.

QPR can be learned in our Gatekeeper course in as little as one hour.

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

How is QPR like CPR?

Much of the world is familiar with CPR — short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation — an emergency medical intervention created in 1957 by Peter Safar. The process is designed to stabilize people who aren’t breathing or breathing intermittently and who may be in cardiac arrest until the person can reach a hospital or other care.

Similarly, QPR is an an emergency mental health intervention for suicidal persons created in 1995 by Paul Quinnett. An abbreviation for Question, Persuade and Refer, the intent is also to identify and interrupt the crisis and direct that person to the proper care.

Early Recognition

We cannot overemphasize the need for early recognition of suicide warning signs.

A well-executed, strong and positive response to the early warning signs of a pending suicide event may render subsequent links in the Chain of Survival unnecessary. Most people thinking about suicide are suffering from an undiagnosed and/or untreated mental illness or substance use disorder for which excellent treatments exist.

The prompt recognition of the scream of a smoke detector can eliminate the need to suppress a raging fire. In just that way, by recognizing the signs of suicide early, opening a supporting dialogue with a suicidal person, and securing consultation a professional may prevent the need for an emergency room visit or psychiatric hospitalization.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver 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. Every year, thousands of Americans are saying “yes” to saving the life of a friend, colleague, family member, or neighbor.

QPR can be learned in our Gatekeeper course in as little as one hour.

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

How is QPR like CPR?

Much of the world is familiar with CPR — short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation — an emergency medical intervention created in 1957 by Peter Safar. The process is designed to stabilize people who aren’t breathing or breathing intermittently and who may be in cardiac arrest until the person can reach a hospital or other care.

Similarly, QPR is an an emergency mental health intervention for suicidal persons created in 1995 by Paul Quinnett. An abbreviation for Question, Persuade and Refer, the intent is also to identify and interrupt the crisis and direct that person to the proper care.

Early Recognition

We cannot overemphasize the need for early recognition of suicide warning signs.

A well-executed, strong and positive response to the early warning signs of a pending suicide event may render subsequent links in the Chain of Survival unnecessary. Most people thinking about suicide are suffering from an undiagnosed and/or untreated mental illness or substance use disorder for which excellent treatments exist.

The prompt recognition of the scream of a smoke detector can eliminate the need to suppress a raging fire. In just that way, by recognizing the signs of suicide early, opening a supporting dialogue with a suicidal person, and securing consultation a professional may prevent the need for an emergency room visit or psychiatric hospitalization.

If you are interested in QPR training please get in touch with Rachel Swanson.

Mental Health First Aid

  • Learn to to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental
    health and substance use concerns among adults.
  • Build skills and confidence needed to reach out and provide initial
    support to those who are struggling.
  • Learn how to connect people to appropriate resources.

MHFA is open to anyone in the Carbon County at no cost! Sign up today and make a difference tomorrow. Certificates are recognized across the globe and look great on a resume! Contact the Wellness Center for questions.

ASIST

Applied

Suicide

Intervention

Skills

Training

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training is a two day in-person workshop featuring powerful audiovisuals, discussions, and simulations that improves a participant’s skills and readiness to reach in and start a conversation with a person who may have thoughts of suicide. At a LivingWorks ASIST workshop, you’ll learn how to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide, and how to provide a skilled intervention and develop a safety plan with the person to connect them to further support. We recommend you have a QPR Training before taking ASIST. ASIST is the next level of training in suicide prevention. It is in depth and rigorous, but a wonderful skill for those who work with the public. If you are interested in ASIST please get in touch with Tracy Young. Also, look for community flyers for dates of upcoming workshops. We try to do one ASIST per year in Carbon County.

Silent Struggles: The Link Between Traumatic Brain Injuries and Suicide

This presentation explores the critical and often overlooked connection between Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and increased risk of suicide. Drawing on current research, clinical data, and real-world case studies, we will examine how TBIs – whether from accidents, sports, or combat – can profoundly impact mental health, emotional regulation, and cognitive function. The presentation will discuss the biological, psychological, and social consequences of brain injury and may contribute to suicidal ideation and behavior.

Tracy Young

Tracy has dedicated the past 22 years to community prevention work in Wyoming, demonstrating a deep and unwavering commitment to the well-being of her peers and communities. The majority of her impactful career has been spent in Laramie, where she also served for several years with the Wyoming Association of Chiefs and Sheriffs of Police. Currently, Tracy serves Carbon County as a local Community Prevention Specialist. Her dedication extends beyond county lines, as she also serves as a Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator and Trainer for the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

Tracy and her husband established their roots in Laramie in 2001 with their son, Alex. In 2013, during the heart of her career focused on substance abuse and suicide prevention, Tracy and her husband faced the unimaginable loss of their only child, Alex, to suicide. This profound personal experience has undoubtedly deepened Tracy’s resolve and understanding in her ongoing work within the prevention field.