Presentations and Training

Self-Paced & Live Virtual Training

These courses are available free of charge thanks to our sponsors at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

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AMSR (Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk)

Training Details:
AMSR training offers the latest research-informed suicide risk assessment and risk formulation to be used in a variety of care settings. Unlike other frameworks, the AMSR risk formulation is developed for each individual, taking into consideration their current circumstances. AMSR Training provides a structure for the clinical provider which can be used in the development of a collaborative treatment and safety plan. The training also provides a language for the clinician to use with non-clinical staff who are also involved in the care that the individual is receiving.

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CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means)

Training Details:
Environmental safety measures are key in creating safety from suicide. In this session, mental health providers will increase their skills in assessing access to lethal means, and joining with clients in how to plan for safety. Particular attention is paid to navigating firearm safety.

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Introduction to Zero Suicide Framework

Training Details:
Zero Suicide is a framework for healthcare and mental healthcare settings to implement safer suicide care practices at a systemic level. This framework aims to eliminate deaths by suicide. Participants will learn about each of the 7 elements of Zero Suicide and the tools that are available to assist with implementation.

Sign up for this training if you want a better understanding of what it would take to implement Zero Suicide in your organization and what supports are available to you throughout your implementation process. This training is also intended for organizations who are already implementing Zero Suicide but need a refresh or want to get new staff on board.

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Practical Suicide Intervention

Training Details:
Everyone – professionals and caring adults alike – has a part to play in safety from suicide. Practical Suicide Intervention training allows anyone who is interested in suicide prevention to learn and practice the skills that protect lives. This training is packed with meaningful conversations about suicide, so please prepare to engage with vulnerability and care.

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QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)

Training Details:
Learn CPR for suicide risk. At the end of this session, participants will be competent in identifying someone at risk of suicide and helping to connect them to their next resource.

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Suicide Intervention: A Gatekeeper Training

Training Details:
Everyone in Kansas has a role to play in preventing suicide. All Kansans can learn the skills necessary to have a direct and nonjudgmental conversation about suicide, and to help people who may be at risk of suicide stay safe and get the help they need. This training is intended for anyone who is looking to bolster their knowledge and understanding of basic suicide intervention.

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Suicide Safety Planning Intervention

Training Details:
In a Zero Suicide framework, healthcare and behavioral healthcare settings have a responsibility to connect all patients/clients who are identified as at risk of suicide to collaborative care and support. Engaging in collaborative safety planning is an essential next step after suicide risk is identified. In this course, participants will learn how to facilitate the Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention. This intervention is evidence-informed and is considered best practice in all health and behavioral healthcare settings. This training is for anyone who interacts directly with clients/patients who may be at risk of suicide. There are no required qualifications to utilize this intervention.

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Suicide Risk Screening | C-SSRS

Training Details:
In a Zero Suicide framework, healthcare and behavioral healthcare settings have a responsibility to screen all clients/patients for suicide risk, regardless of their presenting issue. Utilization of a validated screening tool is essential for good suicide prevention in these settings. In this course, participants will learn how to utilize the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to detect the presence of suicide risk and inform next steps for safety. Anyone who works in a healthcare or behavioral healthcare setting and regularly interacts with clients/patients who may be at risk of suicide can take this training. You do not have to be a licensed mental health professional to utilize the C-SSRS screening tool.

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Suicide Screening & Assessment

Training Details:
This two-part training is intended for licensed mental health professionals, or professionals with equivalent qualifications, who are looking to improve their suicide risk identification skills via suicide risk screening* (part one) and suicide risk assessment (part two).

• In the first part of this course, participants will learn how to utilize the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) screening tool to detect the presence of suicide risk and make recommendations for next steps in care.
• The second part focuses on learning how to conduct a thorough suicide risk assessment utilizing the C-SSRS full scale with SAMHSA’s Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) protocol.

*Please note that you do not have to be a licensed mental health professional to conduct a suicide risk screening. For those who are looking for training on suicide risk screening only, you can find it listed above.

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School-Based Presentations and Trainings

More Than Sad: A high-school program consisting of two, 45-minute presentations in the classroom. The program includes videos that are shown in class, followed by a teacher-led discussion with the students about depression awareness and suicide prevention. This is an AFSP product in which KSPRC staff is available to provide the Train the Trainer for implementation in classrooms.

Sources of Strength: A best practice youth suicide prevention project designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, ultimately preventing suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. The mission of Sources of Strength is to prevent suicide by increasing help-seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. Sources of Strength moves beyond a singular focus on risk factors by utilizing an upstream approach for youth suicide prevention. This upstream model strengthens multiple sources of support (protective factors) around young individuals so that when times get hard they have strengths to rely on.

Suicide in Schools: A comprehensive guide for school-based suicide prevention and postvention. Presentations are customized to the needs of the participating school. The length of the presentation is determined by learning objectives.

Talking Together and Suicide Prevention: An evidence-based program that is implemented in grade school classrooms. The curriculum is presented by teachers and focuses on creating safe learning environments, building social and problem-solving skills in students. The KSPRC training focuses on helping teachers learn to deliver the program.

You are a Lifesaver: A 90 to 120-minute presentation for school staff and teachers drawn from Suicide in Schools: A Practitioner’s Guide to Multi-Level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention. This presentation is suitable for meeting the Jason Flatt Act training requirements. It can also be adapted for students and parents.

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Community Presentations and Training

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
This is a two-day workshop for learning suicide intervention skills. The focus is on learning to identify suicide risks and developing a plan with the person at risk to stay safe for now. Participants are taught to identify possible warning signs for suicide including changes in behavior such as isolation, withdrawal, discussing suicide, increase in substance use, aggressiveness, and feelings of hopelessness or pain. Participants are then taught to identify a plan that will keep the person safe which often includes helping the person seek longer-term support.

C.A.L.M. (Counseling Access to Lethal Means)
90-120 minute training for parents or counselors that focuses on learning the skills necessary to restrict access to lethal means like firearms and abusive substances like pain medications, opioids, and over-the-counter medications. The training includes case studies and a safety plan for these substances.

Introduction to Suicide Prevention
An overview of relevant suicide statistics to help the presentation audience identify the scope of the problem of suicide and possible
interventions for suicide prevention in their sector. The presentation includes a review of the warning signs of suicide and a review of the theory explaining how some may come to consider suicide.

Suicide Safety at Home
There are steps we can all take to make our homes safer for our loved ones. This session will discuss steps and plans that we can all take to keep youth and those living with suicidal thoughts safe at home. Particular attention will be paid to firearm safety resources.

Suicide Talk
This is a 2-hour suicide awareness presentation that helps participants to understand the issue of suicide and how they can help prevent it in their communities. The session is appropriate for
anyone over the age of 15 who wants to learn more and help make a difference.

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
|The CPR for suicide risk. At the end of this session, participants will be competent in identifying someone at risk of suicide and helping to connect them to their next resource.

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Suicide Intervention and Clinical Settings

CALM for Providers: Environmental safety measures are key in creating safety from suicide. In this session, mental health providers will increase their skills in assessing for access to lethal means and joining with clients in how to plan for safety. Particular attention is paid to navigating firearm safety.

Managing Suicide Risk in Substance Use Treatment Settings: This presentation was adapted from SAMHSA’s Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP 50). It is geared toward substance use treatment professionals. Participants will learn about the link between substance use and suicide, gain insight into their personal attitudes about suicide, and learn warning signs for suicide risk.

Suicide Risk Assessment: The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) is an evidence-based suicide screening tool that is considered the “gold standard” in risk assessment. This training session focuses on building competence and confidence in assessing for suicide risk. The training provides participants with the structure, scoring of the CSSRS, practice utilizing the scale, and examples of next steps for suicide risk management. There is no mental health provider requirement to use the CSSRS. It is a tool for the community at large.

Contact us or sign up for the newsletter to find a training near you.