Suicide prevention workshop planned

The Hot Springs County Prevention Coalition will provide Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training at their Suicide Prevention Workshop on March 26-27 at 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (both days. 

They invite the public to join them for free and to increase your knowledge about suicide, learn skills to reach out, and increase your confidence to help save a life. Be an active part of the community’s plan to prevent suicide.

Snacks and lunch will be provided both days. The workshop is free, however, please register so they are sure to have enough materials and food. To register, scan the QR code included at the end of this article, or email jcheney@hotsprings1.org or stop by Public Health.

Prevention Coalition Director Jen Cheney described more about the workshop and said, “I offer a one hour training called QPR, which is Question, Persuade, Refer. It’s a very simple kind of basic introductory to suicide prevention training. And so that’s just one hour. And so this one’s two full days. The workshop really gets much more in depth. We talk about personal perceptions about suicide, and how the community as a whole may perceive suicide and to learn what is the stigma and supports are available to help someone struggling.”

Cheney added about getting into the weeks of this subject where they ask questions such as, “What are our thoughts? What do we have? What are our strengths? What can we work on, such as both ourselves and as a community?”

The workshop training will also teach about being able to identify the warning signs of suicide and what does that look like in a person? Cheney added the training will also be about how to respond to a subject in a positive and hopeful way.

Cheney asked, “If someone was to approach you, maybe like a close friend or family member, or maybe someone you don’t even know that well, but someone was to confide in you that they’re having thoughts of suicide. Would you know how to respond? If you’re not sure, this is the training to take, how to respond in a helpful way, how to keep them safe, and then how to get them help.”

Cheney made a comparison of receiving CPR training when someone has a medical emergency. The workshop’s training for the community is in a similar way when people can respond to help someone who is struggling. However, this isn’t making the participants’ therapy or mental health professional. Cheney added, “When someone’s going through a mental health crisis or event, the more people in our community that are able to respond to that, the safer we all are.”

Wyoming has been ranked third in the nation, dropping from first, for the number of suicides measured. Hot Springs County is ranked very high in Wyoming. If you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org, or reach out to a mental health professional.