A training workshop for volunteers who want to deal with people with thoughts of suicide will be held by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) on Friday, February 23. The safeTALK workshop provides training for anyone over the age of 15 to help identify people who may be suicidal and help them to connect with suicide first aid resources.
As a safeTALK-trained suicide alert helper, people will be better able to move beyond the common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide, to identify people who have thoughts of suicide, and to apply the “talk” steps to connect a person with intervention caregivers. TALK is an acronym for “tell, ask, listen and keep-safe”.
Oftentimes people with thoughts of suicide invited help to stay safe, and alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety.
The training session will include powerful video clips to illustrate both non-alert and alert responses, and discussion and practice help stimulate learning.
The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the CMHA building at 404 Ashford Street on Feb. 23. The cost is $50 per person.
There will be certificates and participant materials provided. For more information about participating, contact Tasha Collins at the CMHA office at 306-842-7959 or email to [email protected].
The course can also be booked for a business, school or family by contacting Tasha at the same number. A minimum of 10 participants is required.
