Connect suicide prevention training participant booklet

Developed by NAMI New Hampshire, Connect Suicide Prevention/Intervention provides training in suicide prevention across the lifespan for professionals and laypersons. Using a unique socio-ecological model, Connect examines suicide prevention in the context of the individual, family, tribe, community and society.

Participants learn to recognize early warning signs of suicide and how to connect with individuals at risk and get them help. Additionally, Connect training addresses “systems” issues including the need for community-wide collaboration, safe messaging, restricting access to lethal means, and the impact of social media.

Specific best practice protocols have been developed for gatekeepers, social services agencies, mental health and substance abuse providers, education, law enforcement and first responders, medical providers and faith communities.  Connect protocols were created through statewide stakeholder groups and were then reviewed by national suicide prevention experts. Connect training activities and materials are based on these protocols and were developed in consultation with experts in training and suicide prevention, and then tested and evaluated.

Connect training includes interactive case scenarios, facilitated discussion, activities, written materials, PowerPoint, and consultation. Connect staff welcome collaboration with organizations, tribes, or villages to customize the training to be culturally effective. Connect staff encourage and facilitate dialogue between service systems and key stakeholders to help strengthen the response to persons at risk.